Abstract
Introduction : The Red Bull Stratos Project consisted of incremental high altitude parachute jumps [maximum altitude 127,852 ft (38,969 m)] from a pressurized capsule suspended from a stratospheric helium-fi lled balloon. A physiological monitoring system was worn by the parachutist to provide operational medical and acceleration data and to record a unique set of data in a supersonic environment. Methods: Various physiological parameters, including heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), skin temperature, and triaxial acceleration, were collected during the ascent, high altitude fl oat, free fall, and parachute opening and descent stages of multiple low-and high altitude jumps. Physiologic data were synchronized with global positioning system (GPS) and audiovisual data for a comprehensive understanding of the environmental stressors experienced. Results: HR reached maximum during capsule egress and remained elevated throughout free fall and landing. RR reached its maximum during free fall. Temperature data were unreliable and did not provide useful results. The highest accelerations parameters were recorded during parachute opening and during landing. During each high altitude jump, immediately after capsule egress, the parachutist experienced a few seconds of microgravity during which some instability occurred. Control was regained as the parachutist entered denser atmosphere. Discussion: The high altitude environment resulted in extremely high vertical speeds due to little air resistance in comparison to lower altitude jumps with similar equipment. The risk for tumbling was highest at initial step-off. Physiological responses included elevated HR and RR throughout critical phases of free fall. The monitoring unit performed well despite the austere environment and extreme human performance activities.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 177-182 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine |
| Volume | 85 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2014 |
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Keywords
- Free fall
- High altitude
- Parachute
- Physiologic monitoring
- Red bull stratos
- Stratosphere
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Physiological monitoring and analysis of a manned stratospheric balloon test program. / Garbino, Alejandro; Blue, Rebecca; Pattarini, James M.; Law, Jennifer; Clark, Jonathan B.
In: Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine, Vol. 85, No. 2, 01.02.2014, p. 177-182.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Physiological monitoring and analysis of a manned stratospheric balloon test program
AU - Garbino, Alejandro
AU - Blue, Rebecca
AU - Pattarini, James M.
AU - Law, Jennifer
AU - Clark, Jonathan B.
PY - 2014/2/1
Y1 - 2014/2/1
N2 - Introduction : The Red Bull Stratos Project consisted of incremental high altitude parachute jumps [maximum altitude 127,852 ft (38,969 m)] from a pressurized capsule suspended from a stratospheric helium-fi lled balloon. A physiological monitoring system was worn by the parachutist to provide operational medical and acceleration data and to record a unique set of data in a supersonic environment. Methods: Various physiological parameters, including heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), skin temperature, and triaxial acceleration, were collected during the ascent, high altitude fl oat, free fall, and parachute opening and descent stages of multiple low-and high altitude jumps. Physiologic data were synchronized with global positioning system (GPS) and audiovisual data for a comprehensive understanding of the environmental stressors experienced. Results: HR reached maximum during capsule egress and remained elevated throughout free fall and landing. RR reached its maximum during free fall. Temperature data were unreliable and did not provide useful results. The highest accelerations parameters were recorded during parachute opening and during landing. During each high altitude jump, immediately after capsule egress, the parachutist experienced a few seconds of microgravity during which some instability occurred. Control was regained as the parachutist entered denser atmosphere. Discussion: The high altitude environment resulted in extremely high vertical speeds due to little air resistance in comparison to lower altitude jumps with similar equipment. The risk for tumbling was highest at initial step-off. Physiological responses included elevated HR and RR throughout critical phases of free fall. The monitoring unit performed well despite the austere environment and extreme human performance activities.
AB - Introduction : The Red Bull Stratos Project consisted of incremental high altitude parachute jumps [maximum altitude 127,852 ft (38,969 m)] from a pressurized capsule suspended from a stratospheric helium-fi lled balloon. A physiological monitoring system was worn by the parachutist to provide operational medical and acceleration data and to record a unique set of data in a supersonic environment. Methods: Various physiological parameters, including heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), skin temperature, and triaxial acceleration, were collected during the ascent, high altitude fl oat, free fall, and parachute opening and descent stages of multiple low-and high altitude jumps. Physiologic data were synchronized with global positioning system (GPS) and audiovisual data for a comprehensive understanding of the environmental stressors experienced. Results: HR reached maximum during capsule egress and remained elevated throughout free fall and landing. RR reached its maximum during free fall. Temperature data were unreliable and did not provide useful results. The highest accelerations parameters were recorded during parachute opening and during landing. During each high altitude jump, immediately after capsule egress, the parachutist experienced a few seconds of microgravity during which some instability occurred. Control was regained as the parachutist entered denser atmosphere. Discussion: The high altitude environment resulted in extremely high vertical speeds due to little air resistance in comparison to lower altitude jumps with similar equipment. The risk for tumbling was highest at initial step-off. Physiological responses included elevated HR and RR throughout critical phases of free fall. The monitoring unit performed well despite the austere environment and extreme human performance activities.
KW - Free fall
KW - High altitude
KW - Parachute
KW - Physiologic monitoring
KW - Red bull stratos
KW - Stratosphere
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84892885069&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84892885069&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3357/ASEM.3744.2014
DO - 10.3357/ASEM.3744.2014
M3 - Article
VL - 85
SP - 177
EP - 182
JO - Aerospace medicine and human performance
JF - Aerospace medicine and human performance
SN - 2375-6314
IS - 2
ER -