lecture

Aerospace Medicine Lecture

dYNAMIC CHALLENGE: PUSHING HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY THROUGH THE STRATOSPHERE AT MACH 1.25
Art Thompson, CEO, Sage Cheshire Aerospace & Technical director, red bull stratos london / 24 October 2013
On October 14, 2012, a pressurised capsule attached to a scientific balloon raised an athlete wearing a custom-made spacesuit over Roswell, New Mexico for a two and a half hour ascent to 128,000 feet (39 kilometers) into the stratosphere where he would exit and step off into a free-fall from near space. Others had died trying to break the 52-year old record set by Col. Joseph Kittinger during the pre-astronaut days of 1960. Few people watching that day realised the event was the culmination of a seven year endeavor, including a rigorous flight test programme, numerous setbacks and delays that threatened the success of the programme. In 2005 Art provided an 87-page summary of the conceptual groundwork for what would become known as Red Bull Stratos: Mission to the Edge of Space. While the world held its breath, Felix Baumgartner surpassed supersonic speed during his 4 minutes 20 seconds in free fall, becoming the first man to successfully reach MACH 1.25 (traveling over 843.6 mph/1,356 km/hr.) without the use of an aerodynamic vehicle. Art Thompson will reveal the design, technical and logistical challenges, of what was a very complex project, that combined aspects of traditional aeronautics and space worthiness to push the limits of human physiology and help to develop protocol for a safe return from near space. Art Thompson, CEO of Sage Cheshire Aerospace has over 34 years of experience in the aerospace industry on some of the most advanced aircraft in the world and was the earliest collaborator on the Red Bull Stratos mission acting as the projects Technical Director. Sage Cheshire Aerospace, Inc. which Art co-founded in Lancaster, California, more than 10 years ago, provides solutions for a complete range of aerospace needs, from initial design and engineering to finished product, with an experienced team of professionals hand-picked by Art himself. Further, his Sage Cheshire crew was responsible for the design, construction and testing of Felixs capsule, and the facility serves as the hub of mission technological development overall.

Venue Royal Aeronautical Society No.4 Hamilton Place London, W1J 7BQ United Kingdom

17:30 - Refreshments 18:00 - Lecture starts

Free to attend
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