#Redbull space drop series

Finally, the external layer was constructed of Nomex to protect against fire and temperature extremes. A 'restraint layer' then helped to maintain the suit's shape. Next was a 'gas membrane' that helped to retain air pressure. The internal layer was a 'comfort liner'. It had four layers consisting of both 'breathable' Gore-Tex, and heat- and flame-resistant Nomex. The suit was modelled on those worn by pilots of high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, but it had never been tried in a free-fall before Baumgartner started testing it. All we know is that he survived, which proves that pre-jump speculation that his body might explode or disintegrate due to the stresses were ill-founded.īaumgartner himself says that he felt very little as he broke the sound barrier because his insulated suit buffered him from external sounds and forces.īaumgartner's suit and helmet were described by his team as 'his personal life-support system'.

#Redbull space drop series

One of the jump's key scientific goals was to learn, via a series of monitors on his body, more about what such an experience does to the human body. The precise physiological exertions experienced by Baumgartner's body as he momentarily reached 833.9mph, or Mach 1.24, during his descent are still being studied by his team. Why did he not break up, or pass out, when he went supersonic? The capsule could, in theory, be used again, but the balloon envelope can only be used once. The balloon was deflated via a nylon 'destruct line', with the lightweight balloon material – known as the envelope – falling back to Earth to be gathered and removed by truck. It hit the ground 55 miles east of Baumgartner's own landing site. The team remotely detached the capsule from the balloon, allowing it to fall back to Earth under its own parachute. As soon as it was confirmed that Baumgartner had landed safely, the attention of mission control shifted to the balloon and capsule.