20 Oct 2012 21:23

Capsule returns to Sage Cheshire Aerospace

Felix loaded into the capsule prior to the final manned jump Oct. 14, 2012

The Red Bull Stratos capsule is back home at Sage Cheshire Aerospace in California after much traveling. Now the fabrication crew will dust off the capsule and keep it for prosperity.

The capsule has seen many changes over the years to reach perfection. Capsule Crew Chief Jon Wells estimates his time on the Red Bull Stratos project has been four years and 11 months, and he doesn’t regret a minute of it. Before Sage Cheshire Aerospace tapped Jon to begin fabrication of the capsule he was married with no kids. Now he has three: a 2 1/2 year old girl, a 3 1/2 year old girl, and a capsule. As Technical Project Director Art Thompson would say, each member of the team tends to feel like an “expectant father” when mission tests are in progress.

Here are the accomplishments in review (some figures subject to change):

Altitude at which Felix Baumgartner stepped off the capsule:

39,045 meters / 128,100 feet

Fastest speed achieved during freefall:

1,342.8 km/h / 833.9 mph (Mach 1.24) Speed of sound broken!

Time elapse before reaching speed of sound during freefall:

33 seconds

Vertical distance of freefall:

36,529 meters / 119,846 feet

Total time spent in freefall:

4 minutes 22 seconds

Chute pulled:

5,300 feet / 1615.44 meters above the ground

Total time from the moment he jumped to landing:

9 minutes 9 seconds

Distance between launch and landing positions:

70.5km / 43.8miles

Records achieved (awaiting certification):

- First human to break the speed of sound in freefall without mechanical intervention

- Freefall from the highest altitude

- Longest vertical distance in freefall

- Highest manned balloon flight

Tags: Red Bull Stratos, capsule, sage cheshire aerospace, jon wells, art thompson