14 Nov 2012 14:00

Inside Mission Control

The first launch attempt delayed

First launch attempt with the 30 mcf balloon. Winds delayed the mission.

We want to hear your story. After all, you’ve probably spent countless hours reading about ours - even rearranging your busy schedule to catch the documentary ‘Space Dive’ . Now is your chance to share your mission experience with Red Bull Stratos. Read on….

Days before the successful jump from 128,100 feet October 14th following a windy ending to the team’s first launch attempt, emotions were high. The entire project was riding on the weather forecast, and no doubt it was a trying time for all team members. They had one 30mcf balloon left in their possession, one chance for all of the intricate parts to come together and work perfectly. The alternative would have included a major delay and a huge blow to their spirits. There are only a handful of months when the weather in Roswell is superb for ballooning, and an even smaller window of time to launch a high altitude helium balloon.

During this intense waiting period Felix was asked in an interview how he stayed motivated. This portion of his answer was especially touching:

“Every day I get messages from people around the world. One of them, a 13-year-old boy who fights cancer, told me, ‘the way you have carried on with this project, makes me want to fight my own battle.’ All of these messages are big motivators for me.”

What impact has Red Bull Stratos made in your life? Does Felix Baumgartner’s supersonic freefall inspire you to work even harder to reach your personal goals? We’d love to hear how your life perspective has changed following this mission. Send your story to askstratos@redbullstratos.com

Tags: Felix Baumgartner, Red Bull Stratos, space dive