On October 14, 2012, approximately eight million people watched a historic event on YouTube. The “skydiver,” Felix Baumgartner, defied gravity and parachuted from a height of 127,852 feets, breaking eight world records in the process. If that wasn’t enough, he also became the first human to break the sound barrier without the use of any engine.

This was the result of five years of planning and a $20 million investment in the Red Bull Stratos project. Beyond the records, this feat showed the world how the human body could survive extreme conditions near space.

The day began at 9:28 a.m. local time in Roswell, New Mexico, USA, as Felix Baumgartner embarked on a journey to the edge of space. In the next hours, he would become the first human to break the sound barrier in a freefall, set the record for the highest parachute jump, and reach the fastest freefall speed ever recorded: 843 miles/h.

Felix Baumgartner, Born to Fly

Felix Baumgartner, born in 1969, started his thrilling journey at the age of 16 when he completed his first parachute jump. This initial contact with the sky immersed him in an exciting adventure that led him to push the boundaries of extreme skydiving.

Later, he ventured into the world of BASE jumping, a dangerous sport that involves jumping from fixed structures or cliffs using a wingsuit.

He also served in the Austrian army, where he honed his skydiving skills and learned to make precise landings in tight areas. Although he later left the military and worked as a motorcycle mechanic for a while, his love for the air called him back.

Baumgartner has a gothic letter tattoo on his forearm that reads “Born to Fly.” This phrase embodies his passion and unwavering determination to explore the skies and defy the limits of gravity.

The Desire to Excel

Felix Baumgartner’s association with Red Bull began when he approached the energy drink company with the bold proposal to sponsor his BASE jump from the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia, USA. Despite initial rejection, Baumgartner persevered and completed the jump on his own.

After completing thirty-two additional BASE jumps, Red Bull finally agreed to sponsor him, marking the beginning of his career as a spectacular showman for the company. Over the years, Felix mastered BASE jumping and became famous for his breathtaking leaps from the world’s most iconic locations and tallest buildings, all in front of the cameras.

However, Baumgartner longed for an even greater challenge: breaking Joseph Kittinger’s record for the highest parachute jump. This desire marked the beginning of Red Bull’s and Felix Baumgartner’s ultimate challenge.

Joseph Kittinger, then 84 years old, played an integral role in the mission and became Baumgartner’s main point of contact during his historic jump. Achieving this feat would require years of research, development, and costly testing with the collaboration of aerospace industry experts.

Records That Were Shattered That Day

Felix Baumgartner’s feat involved a series of remarkable records:

The largest balloon with a person on board

A gigantic balloon, roughly the size of the Statue of Liberty when fully inflated, carried Felix in a capsule to the astonishing altitude of 38,969.4 meters. The balloon was filled with helium, expanding as it ascended to its maximum capacity of approximately 850,000 m³ in the stratosphere.

Highest altitude without protection outside a vehicle

After depressurizing the capsule, the point of no return, Felix found himself on the edge before making his historic jump. He started at an altitude of 30,000 meters above Mount Everest and returned to Earth in an astonishing time of 9 minutes and 9 seconds.

First human to break the sound barrier in freefall

After safely landing on solid ground, Felix Baumgartner described his experience. He endured spins and brutal acceleration during his supersonic freefall, reaching a maximum speed of 1,357.6 km/h, surpassing the speed of sound (1,236 km/h) in the process.

Highest number of simultaneous views in a live YouTube event

Felix’s jump not only set altitude records but also became an online phenomenon. The live broadcast attracted a massive audience, with Felix and Red Bull setting viewership records for live events on YouTube.

In summary, Felix Baumgartner became an icon of space exploration and a symbol of human bravery and determination. His jump from the stratosphere left an indelible mark on the history of aviation and extreme sports, inspiring people around the world to dream big and reach new heights in their own lives.