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‘Flying Television Studio’: Here’s a Look at the Tech Documenting the Historic ‘Edge of Space’ Jump

Aug. 1, 2012 7:01am Liz Klimas

Shooting in the Stratosphere: Red Bull Stratos Project Details Cameras Capturing Images and Footage

A view from the back of Felix Baumgartner's head as he is about to jump. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

TheBlaze has reported several times about the harrowing jump Felix Baumgartner is planning to undertake from the “edges of space.” He has recently completed another successful test jump from more than 96,600 feet high, but his official jump will be at 120,000 feet, which is in Earth’s stratosphere.

As amazing as Baumgartner’s resolve to complete the Red Bull Stratos mission is, what’s also fascinating is the technology that brings us the footage of these test jumps and, ultimately, the final jump itself. Red Bull recently shed some light on the imaging tech that makes this possible.

(Image: YouTube screenshot)

With the environment at these heights getting as cold as negative 60 degrees F and with zero air pressure, capturing these images is a challenge. Fifteen cameras taking both moving and still shots will be on board the capsule, and three cameras on Baumgartner’s body will broadcast live coverage to the ground. An expert says the recording devices being used are “beyond high definition.”

You can see cameras mounted on the capsule facing Baumgartner in this image. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

Aerospace Imagery Specialist Jay Nemeth calls the system as a whole a “flying television studio.”

Although being tailored to capture footage of a body moving 690 miles per hour is the main goal for the cameras, just getting them to work under the high-altitude conditions will be the challenge. Nemeth said some of the cameras were modified to operate in space (meaning they could withstand the harsh environment) and other more complex cameras will be placed inside a chamber with an “Earth-like atmosphere” to keep them going.

Inside the capsule on which 15 cameras will be mounted to capture all the action from various angles. (Image: YouTube screenshot)

Watch this short video from Red Bull, which highlights the technology that will document this event:

Joseph Kittinger, who made a record-setting jump at 103,000 feet in 1960, said the cameras will make it possible for those safely grounded on Earth to experience what Baumgartner feels — to an extent — during his historic jump.

Baumgartner’s latest test jump at 17 miles high took about 1 1/2 hours to reach as a target altitude. He was in free fall for an estimated three minutes and 48 seconds before opening his parachutes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

(H/T: Gizmodo)

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Comments (16)

RayOne
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:11pm
The curiosity is there, look out for the Mars landing.

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Ruff Razor
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 10:12pm
Not even close to what Capt. Kittinger accomplished in terms of his low-tech equip and when he did it 50 years ago. ………….In the days of the 8th Infantry Division Parachute Club.

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crazytmacy
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 8:01pm
I love what red bull does with THEIR money. At least its not going to sleazy politicians.

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Rainbow Dash
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:58pm
Very very cool stuff

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TPaine
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 2:06pm
Anyone is welcome to stop buying Red Bull products, but they also ought to stop buying Starbucks and Barnie’s and other $8 cups of coffee because they’re called “lattes”. I enjoy Red Bull air races, and I’m enjoying this project, because I am a licensed pilot and a skydiver. And I don’t drink any Red Bull products.

Just goes to prove that if you do anything today, someone will crawl out of the woodwork to complain.

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PointBreak
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 12:37pm
This is nonsense. Let’s boycott RedBull. Why am I paying $2 for 8.4 ounces of this crap when the price could probably be half if they’d stop burning money on this BS? Exactly 4 people care about this dude’s jump and even fewer about RedBull’s race team. How about you corporate tools stop blatantly flaunting the fact that your product is so overpriced and so many people are hooked on it that you literally have money to burn?

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- urrybr
  Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:21pm
  Joseph Kittinger’s jump was for research in high altitude rescue and egress techniques. He had titanium cajones, because this feat had never even been thought of. The attempt to break the record is awesome. Man is constantly trying to expand his limits, and for this cause alone, the attempt is worthy of awe and respect. Red Bull is ONE of MANY sponsors of this event, not the only one. Besides, what people/companies do with their money is their choice . . . right. Any restrictions would be what Barry O’numbnuts and Bloomingidiot are trying to do . . . right? I applaud the attempt and the man that will do it.
  
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- jriggs
  Posted on August 4, 2012 at 9:37pm
  Nobody is forcing people to buy it….jeeze.
  
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- inspectorrick
  Posted on October 15, 2012 at 3:24pm
  Well Pointbreak; you can always source caffeine powder, and add as much as you think you can handle in your favorite drink, and not purchase RedBull. It’s not my business what you do with your money, nor is it your business what Redbull does with their money. I for one enjoy the projects they support, this is also of great interest to NASA, and other countries for escape methods for future space flight. I only jumped twice in my life because of heart problems, but if I could, I would jump every chance I had because it’s addictive once you free-fall. More power to all involved in this venture, and less moaning from indignant, uninformed people.
  
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- auhunter
  Posted on October 16, 2012 at 4:26pm
  Hey Bud, no one is twisting your arm. If you don’t like the product or the cost don’t buy it. He has some Cajones to even attempt it. I wouldn’t, not even having 600+ jumps from 1 to 30,000 ft. I just can’t imagine a free fall from that altitude and at speeds of 800+ mph is bizarre.
  
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Krutch
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 11:08am
@ snowleopard
No, Moore would eat him!

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80mesh
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:46am
you only need a parachute to sky dive twice

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Stoic one
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:31am
Cool stuff!

Spend it before obama figures out how to tax it!

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teddrunk
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:23am
(Yawn)…who cares.

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historyguy48
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:23am
Sure is a long way down, especially if your chute fails to open.

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:53am
  Look at it this way, if the chutes fail, and he lands on Michael Moor, he will survive.
  
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