One Year Ago: Looking Back at Felix Baumgartner's Incredible Jump from the Stratosphere

One year ago, Felix Baumgartner ascended to the Stratosphere and jumped from 120,000 feet back to Earth. The whole World watched on edge, as Baumgartner made the historic leap. 

Salute: Baumgartner signs off before the jump

After many months of preparation, expenditure spanning over millions, and doubts throughout, it was quite the journey towards the historic skydive. 

Initially announced in January 2010, the mission was put on hold for the duration of a lawsuit where Daniel Hogan filed against Red Bull claiming that they stole the idea. The project would get back on track however in February 2012.

There was more to it than just the Austrian putting his life at risk to experience the thrill of such a feat. It gained scientific benefits also, providing data for development of high-performance and high-altitude parachute systems.

While the title for the project, 'Mission to the Edge of Space', garnered some controversy because it did not really match the exact definition as to the height it was. Nonetheless, the feat was extraordinary.

The ground-breaking moment was delayed however, as the original schedule for the jump was Tuesday 9 October 2012. Due to big winds, and radio faults, the mission was aborted and would take place the following Sunday. 

At 09:30am local time, the capsule was finally launched. Felix Baumgartner made his ascent to the stratosphere as the whole team watched anticipating the moment where the capsule would finally open. 

During the ascent, the mission could have possibly been called off. After passing the Armstrong Line, Felix Baumgartner sent a message back to Mission Control, concerned about his visor not working properly. In spite of this, the option to cut the helium balloon and bring the capsule back down was not under-taken, and the mission would continue. 



After two-and-a-half hours, the height was reached. The final adjustments before the jump were made. The capsule was then depressurized before Felix detached his umbilical air supplies - after considering it twice when his nerves epitomized.

With the World watching, Baumgartner stepped onto the platform and looked down to Earth. The two renowned quotes remain in memory.

"Start the cameras, and our guardian angel will take care of you", Kittinger told Baumgartner before the jump. Then, with all eyes set to Baumgartner who was 120,000 feet high, a short message was delivered: 

"I know the whole world is watching now. I wish you could see what I can see. Sometimes you have to be up really high to understand how small you are... I'm coming home now." - Felix Baumgartner

And with that, he would jump.



Saluting to the World, Baumgartner would step off, with mission control saying "jumper away" as he went at insane speeds back to Earth. 

The jumper went into an uncontrollable spin in the first minute, possibly fatal if it was not controlled. When he did regain control, his free-fall would last around three minutes and forty seconds before opening his parachute and landing safely to the ground.



Landing with both feet, Baumgartner would go to his knees and celebrate, then ground crews 
would take him back to base. 

Forty-three miles elsewhere, the capsule would land back at Earth. Talk about monuments.

Records were broken, millions were amazed and one man made history. That is all to the extraordinary tale of Red Bull Stratos.