On October 14, 2012 Felix Baumgartner rose in a helium balloon to an altitude of 128,100 feet, and in a highly specialized space suit broke the world record by jumping and reaching a maximum speed of 833.9 miles per hour, or Mach 1.24.
"Trust me,” Felix said after the jump, “when you stand up there on top of the world, you become so humble. It's not about breaking records anymore. It’s not about getting scientific data. It's all about coming home."
As millions watched the daredevil jumper exit his capsule and gaze at the earth, the RedBull Stratos project was actualized. It took five years of preparing for this mission, and the project involved 300 people including seventy engineers, scientists and physicians.
Felix had to be in "aerodynamic" shape in order to break the sound barrier; throughout the free fall he had to constantly stabilize his body into a headfirst position. This took so much concentration that Felix remarked that he didn't even notice the sonic boom when he broke the sound barrier.
What can we learn from this?
The first message that hits me is the incredible amount of planning we are capable of when focused on a goal. There is no limit to the time, the money, the team work. Felix’s team involved experts from a wide range of fields from medicine to meteorology to psychology. But the most amazing member was the previous record breaker, Joe Kittinger, an 84-year old retired Air Force colonel. It was his calming voice from mission control that guided Felix through the ascent to the stratosphere. Instead of wanting his record to remain unbroken, Kittinger became an integral, inspiring mentor to the next generation. He passed on the torch, wanting mankind to go further and faster than he was able to go.
We see what a team can do when each member is focused on the goal instead of his own ego. Watching the expression of joy on Kittinger's face when Felix landed was beautiful. If only I could be that selfless for someone else's success.
And there's another lesson I took from this. For the past decade, the positive psychology movement has been telling us that practice and perseverance matters more than innate talent and strength. There is a trait called "grit" that Wikipedia defines as "an individual's passion for a particular long term goal coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective." Clearly, Baumgartner has 'grit' as evidenced by his years of training and focus on breaking world jumping records. But there's more to grit. It also involves one's ability to continue to get up no matter how many times he falls. To wipe off the mud and the frustration and decide to keep persevering despite the myriad obstacles that can and do appear.
For instance, during the training for this mission Felix discovered that despite his fearlessness of heights, he had to face a new, unexpected fear in his tiny capsule: claustrophobia. He was so afraid of the closed, tight quarters of the capsule that in 2010 he left the United States and almost gave up entirely. But he didn't. And then during the second hour of the ascent, Baumgartner's visor began fogging up and continued to be blurry into his leap in space. Despite the terror, which we cannot possibly comprehend, Felix did not give up and use the high tech drogue chute that would have slowed him down, preventing him from breaking the sound barrier.
When the road is not always clear, when we’re afraid and feel completely lost, there is a way to keep going. God gives each of us this power inside of us to jump even when our visors are blurry, to stay focused even when we are frightened to make that final leap towards our goal.
My daughters and I once did a freefall from the SkyCoaster in Superland, Israel. That was 165 feet in the air, and when we had to release the latch and fall straight towards the ground, there were two thoughts that raced through my mind. There was no way down except to fall. And secondly there is nothing more frightening than the complete loss of control. For Felix, it was a bit different (besides the difference of around 127, 935 feet) because he had to work the entire time at stabilizing his body so that it would be aerodynamic. We were just free falling, but there is something about flying straight towards the ground that is innately humbling. The sense of freedom is exhilarating, and the vulnerability so terrifying.
I also discovered in that short free fall that no one ascends or descends to such heights without praying. Even a daredevil prays. That’s what Felix was doing on his climb up into the stratosphere.
But I think the most powerful lesson of all is in Felix's own poignant words after the jump. "It's all about coming home." Stronger than our need to jump, more powerful than our yearning to fly is our inherent connection to the preciousness of life. We all want to come home, to connect to those we love and to God who gives us the courage to jump past the edge of our fears.
Focus on the goal. Keep training. Jump even when your visors are all fogged up. Pray for strength. Pray for courage. And pray for Him to bring you home.
(13) basha, October 21, 2012 12:37 PM
been there, done that!
We have, at least one time in our lives, taken a leap of faith, whether the first day of school, a new job, marriage, in fact the first time for everything is truly a heart-stopping situation and for many there is a life-threatening performance to go through - wars, bomb disposal etc. Life is challenging enough but I give credence to Felix for putting a new slant on human endeavour.
(12) bootsie, October 18, 2012 3:23 PM
you summarize, i'll comment.
someone has to take these risks or nothing would be accomplished. get over it, and let George do it.....
(11) Akiva, October 18, 2012 2:32 AM
Courage?
As incredible as this was I don't understand why it is being labeled as courageous. If someone would have run into a burning building in order to save a life, we would call him courageous. But that same person who would run into a burning building in order to save his baseball card collection would be called a complete fool. I am sorry but Felix came very close to losing his life when spinning the way he did. He admits himself that he could have lost consciousness and never would have been able to pull the cord. A thousand other things could have gone wrong as well. Breaking a record in my book is just not a good enough reason to risk ones life to such an extent. That's not courageous Felix, that's foolish.
Anonymous, October 21, 2012 4:33 PM
agree
I agree with you %100.
(10) Chana Ruth, October 17, 2012 6:30 PM
Amazing
The courage and determination of Felix Baumgartner and the entire team of people behind this feat is something to learn from. Anonymous: The jump was not just for accolades or record breaking--it was also testing out the new space suit and gathering data. It was a prototype for future space suits that our astronauts will use. Thank you, Sara, for reminding us what we can learn from the things we witness in our world.
(9) Jerry Russo, October 17, 2012 5:42 PM
What did he accomplish?
What scientific accomplishments did he make? The time, money and effort he spent could have been put to greater uses. Research into many needed medical problems, world peace etc.
(8) Anonymous, October 17, 2012 3:55 PM
To Anonymous: What the fuss is all about...
What Felix Baumgartner did was not just a daredevil feat. It had scientific value that will be of benefit not only to astronauts who will be wearing special suits to help them survive in the future, but also to countless others including, possibly, you, because these technological experiments eventually impact medicine, personal safety, materials manufacture and other fields. If there are no "volunteers" to push the boundaries and be the "guinea pigs", great innovations couldn't happen.
(7) Stacey, October 17, 2012 6:20 AM
The amazing feat
I was so in awe in seeing his courage, and knowing the time and training it took for Mr Baumgartner to accomplish this amazing feat! Watching him reminded me of how I felt when I watched the first moon landing and seeing Neil Armstrong take that first step. It was an anxious feeling that kept me on the edge of my seat, all the while praying that he would succeed. Yes, Mr. Baumgartner is an inspiration to all of us to be determined to achieve any goal or overcome any obstacle we have in life.
(6) Anonymous, October 16, 2012 6:51 PM
Joe Kittinger
I think that Joe Kittinger is the star of the show. What a beautiful act of selflessness. I also think that all the lessons that you brought out that we can learn from this whole episode are very true and I'm really happy that you pointed them out. But aside from that , I really don't understand why the big fuss. Like, so what? On this you spend five years of your precious life? And risk your life? I never understood why people like to break records - they'll use up all the eggs, flour,sugar and oil in town to bake the biggest cake, to get their picture in some crazy book, work for years to see who can run the fastest, jump the highest, squeeze the most people into a Volkswagon, swallow the most gold fish, the list is unending. But perhaps I missed something here. Besides the excitement and "never done before" aspect, is there anything else? Please fill me in.
Anonymous, October 17, 2012 4:00 PM
Important knowlege
This research can be used by astronauts if they have to bail out at high altitude. The technology is in the protective suit. They learned how to manipulate the body so as not to freeze on the way down, not loose consciousness, and to land safely. Good job!
(5) Naomi Ruben, October 16, 2012 5:02 PM
Sara-Thank you for your insight
Sara, I want to thank you for your insight and pointing out what many parents and teachers are now implementing. Positive reinforcement and encouragement go a long way to a healthy environment. What could EACH of us accomplish if we had our own cheering section at home, school and work. What if we extended kindness and positivity and removed belittling from sports- from coaching directed to athletes, from parents directed at coaches, We are on the right path addressing bullying, but it needs to go further. Extend a hand up instead of a palm pushing someone down.
(4) Lenore Dollinger, October 16, 2012 4:56 PM
You turned my life around from weakness to strenght in mind and body
THANK YOU WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL
(3) Camellia, October 15, 2012 5:41 PM
God bless you Felix!
I was praying for him all the while I was watching him fall seeming in the distance like a small white dot and when he reached the ground feet first and then signed himself with the cross I felt my heart swell with joy and pride, he made me want to fly! He inspired me to dream and be ambitious and never give up on my dreams. Thank you Felix and God bless you forever!
(2) Beverly Kurtin, October 15, 2012 3:22 PM
Amen
His amazing feat will go down in history, but even more, he has opened the world to new realizations. Bravo, Felix, Bravo!
(1) Stephane luako Lombo, October 15, 2012 2:03 PM
Felix Baumgartner's supersonic jump
Mr.Felix Baumgartner is a man of great courage there is no doubt what so ever. It is the first leg to your sucess. But never forget the one who created you at all times:God is the one that will make you successful and bring you home no matter what hardships or unexpected events occure. Mr.Stephane luako Lombo