‘Flying Television Studio’: Here‘s a Look at the Tech Documenting the Historic ’Edge of Space’ Jump
- Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:01am by
Liz Klimas
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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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RayOne
Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:11pmThe curiosity is there, look out for the Mars landing.
Report Post »Ruff Razor
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 10:12pmNot 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.
Report Post »crazytmacy
Posted on August 3, 2012 at 8:01pmI love what red bull does with THEIR money. At least its not going to sleazy politicians.
Report Post »Rainbow Dash
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:58pmVery very cool stuff
Report Post »TPaine
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 2:06pmAnyone 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.
Report Post »PointBreak
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 12:37pmThis 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?
Report Post »urrybr
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:21pmJoseph 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.
Report Post »jriggs
Posted on August 4, 2012 at 9:37pmNobody is forcing people to buy it….jeeze.
Report Post »Krutch
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 11:08am@ snowleopard
Report Post »No, Moore would eat him!
80mesh
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:46amyou only need a parachute to sky dive twice
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:31amCool stuff!
Spend it before obama figures out how to tax it!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:23am(Yawn)…who cares.
Report Post »historyguy48
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:23amSure is a long way down, especially if your chute fails to open.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:53amLook at it this way, if the chutes fail, and he lands on Michael Moor, he will survive.
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