Felix Baumgartner's stratospheric jump: how the feat was prepared
Felix Baumgartner stratospheric jump : the Austrian who in 2012 challenged human limits by jumping from almost 39,000 meters, marked a before and after in the history of extreme sports.
Felix Baumgartner's stratospheric jump not only broke sporting records, but also provided key data for aerospace safety and the development of pressure suits.
That jump, made from 39,068 meters above the Roswell desert, marked a turning point in extreme sports. Dressed in a pressurized suit similar to that worn by astronauts, Baumgartner leaped into the void and reached a speed of 1,357 km/h, exceeding Mach 1.25. He was the first human to achieve this without mechanical assistance.
The global impact of Felix Baumgartner's stratospheric jump
The feat wasn't improvised. It required five years of preparation and a $20 million investment from the Red Bull Stratos project. The jump not only broke sporting records but also provided valuable data for aerospace safety. Hundreds of millions of people watched the live broadcast, which became one of the most-watched events in YouTube history.
Baumgartner became a cultural icon . His quote before jumping—"Sometimes you have to go very high to understand how small you are"—is etched in the collective memory. He was awarded the Laureus Prize for Best Extreme Sportsman and participated in scientific and sports exhibitions around the world.
Records broken by Felix Baumgartner with his jump from the stratosphere
Born in Salzburg in 1969, Baumgartner made his first jump at 16 and joined the Austrian Army's special forces. Among his achievements were crossing the English Channel without an engine, descending from landmarks such as the Petronas Twin Towers and Taipei 101, and conquering Mamet Cave in Croatia with a 200-meter jump.
The fatal accident in Italy: what is known
While on vacation in Porto Sant'Elpidio, on the Adriatic coast, Baumgartner suffered a mid-flight ache and lost control of the paraglider. The aircraft crashed into a hotel pool. A woman was injured , but not seriously.
The Italian prosecutor's office confirmed there were no technical failures. Prosecutor Raffaele Iannella stated that the Austrian "fell in a downward spiral and couldn't get out. He failed to perform the maneuver he should have done to avoid the fall."
A legacy that transcends tragedy
Felix Baumgartner's death left a void in the world of adventure. However, his legacy lives on in technological advances, in records still being studied, and in the inspiration he inspired in millions.
