Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Space Industry and Business News .




SPACE TRAVEL
Wind delays Austrian's edge of space jump in US
by Staff Writers
Los Angeles (AFP) Oct 5, 2012


US organizers of an Austrian daredevil's record-breaking attempt to jump from the edge of space have delayed the mission by a day due to forecast wind, they said Friday.

Felix Baumgartner, aiming to break a number of records including being the first man to exceed the speed of sound in free fall, is now scheduled to jump Tuesday instead of Monday over the US state of New Mexico.

"The reason for the delay is a strong cold front with sharply colder temperatures... over the weekend," said the organizers of the Red Bull Stratos mission.

"While the weather will greatly improve on Monday .. wind speeds are expected to be above acceptable levels for a safe launch on Monday morning," at up to 24 kmh (15 mph), said meteorologist Don Day.

Baumgartner aims to ascend 120,000 feet -- nearly 23 miles, (36 kilometers) -- in a capsule taken up to the edge of the stratosphere by a gigantic helium balloon, before stepping out in a pressurized suit to fall back to earth.

The 43-year-old has been training for five years for the jump, during which he will be in free fall for five minutes before opening a parachute at 5,000 feet up to float back to the ground.

The biggest danger he faces is spinning out of control, which could exert G forces and make him lose consciousness -- a controlled dive from the capsule in essential, putting him in a head-down position to increase speed.

Among the records he is seeking to break is that of the highest ever jump -- at over three times the average airliner cruising altitude.

The Red Bull Stratos mission, backed by a 100-strong team of experts and centered on the launch site in Roswell, New Mexico, also hopes to contribute to medical and aeronautical research.

Organizers say that despite the delay from the originally planned Monday launch, the attempt will "most probably" go ahead Tuesday morning.

"The good news is that we usually have a day or two after this type of cold front moves through where the weather can be favorable for a balloon launch," said Day.

.


Related Links
Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








SPACE TRAVEL
Uwingu's Crowdfunding Campaign Concludes
Boulder CO (SPX) Oct 02, 2012
Commercial space start up Uwingu, LLC reports that its crowdfunding campaign at Indiegogo culminated successfully on September 24th, raising 107% of the $75,000 fundraising target it set to launch its first commercial product. With these funds, Uwingu expects to begin creating a new stream of dollars for space research and education. "We're ecstatic, and appreciative," said Dr. Alan Stern, ... read more


SPACE TRAVEL
Google, publishers end long-running copyright case

Apple even stronger a year after Steve Jobs death

Prehistoric builders reveal trade secrets

Space debris delays Japan's satellite experiment

SPACE TRAVEL
Raytheon to provide Joint Tactical Terminal radios with latest security features to US Navy

Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract to Extend BACN Communications Connectivity to the Tactical Edge

Hughes Awarded Custom SATCOM Solutions Contract by GSA

4 SOPS begins testing newest AEHF satellite

SPACE TRAVEL
SpaceX craft on way to ISS in first supply run

Orbital Begins Antares Rocket Operations at Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport

H-IIB Launch Service Privatization

Ariane rocket launches two telecom satellites

SPACE TRAVEL
Twin Galileo satellites fuelled and ready for launch

Northrop Grumman to Improve Performance of MEMS Inertial Sensors for DARPA

Lockheed Martin Delivers Propulsion Core for the First GPS III Satellite

China launches another 2 navigation system satellites

SPACE TRAVEL
JAL to extend Japan-China flight cuts amid row

Lockheed Martin Announces New Solution to Reduce Airport Congestion and Improve Overall Airspace Efficiency

New Brazilian facility for Eurocopter

GE calls for jet engine checks after China incident

SPACE TRAVEL
Visionary transparent memory a step closer to reality

Acoustic cell-sorting chip may lead to cell phone-sized medical labs

New method monitors semiconductor etching as it happens - with light

New method monitors semiconductor etching as it happens - with light

SPACE TRAVEL
SMOS has a better look at salinity

Digital Map Products to Discuss the New Rules for Communicating with Residents

Apple CEO sorry for maps shortcomings

Landslide mapping in the Swiss Alps

SPACE TRAVEL
Council of war gathers for world's biodiversity crisis

Mobiles phones getting less toxic: researcher

Remarkable enzyme points the way to reducing nitric acid use in industry

Solving the stink from sewers




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement