Skydiver Felix Baumgartner performs a test jump ahead of his attempt next week to leap and break the speed of sound in a freefall. Picture: Red Bull Source: Supplied
Felix Baumgartner prepares to jump during the first manned test flight for Red Bull Stratos over Roswell. (AP Photo/Red Bull Stratos, Jay Nemeth) Source: AP
A MAN'S world record-breaking attempt to become the first man to break the speed of sound with his own body has been delayed by a day.
The latest weather report has indicated that a cold front with overly strong winds is set to hinder the three-day countdown for the Red Bull Stratos launch with the ultimate flight postponed from October 8 to Tuesday October 9.
The mission, set to take place in Roswell, New Mexico, will see athlete Felix Baumgartner attempt a record-breaking freefall from 120,000 feet above the Earth.
The reason for the delay is a strong cold front with sharply colder temperatures, low clouds and some drizzle that will be moving through eastern New Mexico over the weekend.
While the weather will greatly improve on Monday with clearing skies and warmer temperatures, wind speeds are expected to be above acceptable levels for a safe launch.
Red Bull Stratos meteorologist Don Day said Baumgartner will launch with the largest manned balloon in history: 550 feet/ 168 meters high at the start with a volume of 30 million cubic feet/850.000 cubic metres.
"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", Don Day said.
The delay does not influence the preparations and a dress rehearsal will still go ahead.
Ideal weather conditions are essential for the launch because of the delicate eight-hour long process of laying out and pumping helium into the 55-storey high balloon that will carry Baumgartner and his over 1,300-kg space capsule to the stratosphere.
The balloon, the largest ever used made for manned flight, was constructed out of strips of high-performance polyethylene, a plastic film.
These strips would cover 40 acres if they were laid out flat on the ground. The balloon's height when it reaches jump altitude will be 334 feet (102 metres), with a diameter of 424 feet (129 metres).�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
The balloon, 10 times larger than the balloon used by Joe Kittinger for his record jump from 102,800 feet (31,333 metres) 52 years ago, which Baumgartner will be trying to beat, will be tall and thin at the launch.
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