A new documentary film allows viewers to experience daredevil Felix Baumgartner’s supersonic free-fall from 39km above the Earth. The video was released to mark the anniversary of the record-breaking sky dive.
The hair-raising video follows the jump from the edge of Space
from three different angles, while dials on the edge of the
screen document altitude and speed.
Lasting a total of nine minutes, the footage starts with
Baumgartner tumbling out of his capsule and plummeting towards
Earth. The footage even allows the viewer to experience the
moment when the Austrian BASE jumper breaks the sound barrier,
hitting a top speed of 1,358 kilometers an hour.
After the jump Baumgartner entered the record books as the first human to break the sound barrier. The Austrian adrenaline junky said the physiological information gathered during the fall could be invaluable “for those who are exploring how people might be able to bail out of aircraft at ultra-high altitudes.”
Red Bull – who sponsored the jump – released the video to
celebrate the first anniversary of Baumgartner’s feat. The
original live feed broadcast on the day of the jump also broke
records with over 8 million people tuning in to watch it.
The jump itself was fraught with danger and took over five years
to plan. The slightest slip-up could have sent Baumgartner
spinning out of control, causing him to lose consciousness.
Baumgartner told press after the jump that he would never be able to surpass his space jump and was planning to retire and become a helicopter rescue pilot.
The previous record for the highest parachute jump was held by US Air Force Colonel Joe Kittinger, who jumped from 31,300 meters back in 1960.