Red Bull ‘Stratos’ exhibit to land at space center

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center will host the on Red Bull “Stratos” exhibit from Aug. 9 to Sept. 30. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – An exhibit in tribute to man’s first ‘jump’ from the stratosphere will land at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center on Aug. 9 through Sept. 30.

The Red Bull “Stratos” exhibit features the spacesuit and space capsule used by Felix Baumgartner in his record-setting jump from the stratosphere in October 2012. Exhibit hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Only five museums in the world will host the exhibit. “The exhibit comes from a stay in Houston, Texas and will travel on to California and to its final position in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.,” media intern Christine Covell said.

A ribbon cutting on Aug. 8 at 4 p.m. will launch the exhibit. Red Bull’s Wings Team, comprised of college ambassadors, will show the company’s support of the space industry, Covell said.

On Aug. 15, the “Pass the Torch” speaker series will feature three prominent officials with the Red Bull Stratos mission. Col. Joe Kittinger, Baumgartner’s personal mentor and Huntsville flying veteran, will be a featured speaker. Other presenters will be project director Art Thompson and medical director Dr. Jonathan Clark.

Pass the Torch is a free session. To request tickets, visit rocketcenter.com/redbull.

Named National Geographic’s “2013 Adventurer of the Year,” Baumgartner now is pursuing media tours and promotions.

Baumgartner’s mission was headquartered in Roswell, N.M. “Numerous companies collaborated on the science and development for the jump,” Covell said. Baumgartner fell faster than the speed of sound. Lifted by a helium-filled balloon, Baumgartner’s capsule climbed to 128,100 feet.

“He jumped out to set the world record for fastest traveling human in free fall, highest altitude record in a manned balloon flight and highest parachute jump,” Covell said. “His free fall back to Earth lasted 9:09 minutes with a maximum speed of 843.3 mph.”

Baumgartner’s pressurized suit is fire retardant, heat resistant and insulated against extreme cold. His helmet weighs only eight pounds. The jump was not affiliated with NASA.

For more information, visit rocketcenter.com.