#Highest freefall free#

On 12 October 2010, Red Bull announced it was placing the project on hold after Daniel Hogan filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court in Los Angeles, California, USA in April, claiming he originated the idea of the parachute dive from the edge of space in 2004 and that Red Bull stole the idea from him. This would be possible because while the normal terminal velocity of a skydiver freeflying is about 320 km/h (200 mph or 90 m/s), the high altitude with less-dense atmosphere would decrease drag. Baumgartner was going to make the 36,600 m (120,100 ft) jump from a capsule suspended from a balloon filled with helium, intending to become the first parachutist to break the sound barrier. By wearing the Equivital LifeMonitor, researchers were able to monitor Felix Baumgartner's physiological response within an extreme environment. In January 2010, it was reported that Baumgartner was working with a team of scientists and sponsor Red Bull GmbH to attempt the highest sky-dive on record. īaumgartner's height record has since been surpassed by Alan Eustace. These claims were verified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). He also broke the record for the highest-altitude jump, set in 1960 by USAF Colonel Joseph Kittinger, who was Baumgartner's mentor and capsule communicator at mission control. With a final altitude of 38,969 m (127,851 ft 24 mi), Baumgartner broke the unofficial record for the highest manned balloon flight of 37,640 m (123,491 ft) previously set by Nick Piantanida. Measurements show Baumgartner also broke two other world records. Reaching 1,357.64 km/h (843.6 mph)- Mach 1.25-Baumgartner broke the sound barrier on his descent, becoming the first human to do so without any form of engine power.

#Highest freefall free#

While the free fall was initially expected to last between five and six minutes, Baumgartner deployed his parachute after 4 minutes and 19 seconds. The total jump, from leaving the capsule to landing on the ground, lasted approximately ten minutes. On 14 October 2012, Baumgartner flew approximately 39 kilometres (24 mi) into the stratosphere over New Mexico, United States, in a helium balloon before free falling in a pressure suit and then parachuting to Earth. Red Bull Stratos was a high-altitude skydiving project involving Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner.