If you weren’t near a stable YouTube connection, or a TV news station, chances are you were following the excitement around Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner’s historic space jump on Twitter.
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The official Redbull Stratos account provided what was probably the most definitive chronicle of events.
Baumgartner’s mentor Joe Kittinger was there to guide Baumgartner through the ascent and was frequently the voice of the mission:
“We are going to get your goal and your dream accomplished Felix.” Joe Kittinger from Mission Control twitter.com/RedBullStratos…
— Red Bull Stratos (@RedBullStratos) October 14, 2012
“Everything is great and you are on your way to space.” Joe Kittinger twitter.com/RedBullStratos…
— Red Bull Stratos (@RedBullStratos) October 14, 2012
“Make sure to stay hydrated Felix.” Joe Kittinger twitter.com/RedBullStratos…
— Red Bull Stratos (@RedBullStratos) October 14, 2012
The account noted a record Baumgartner broke on the way up:
Felix just broke the record for the record of highest manned balloon flight at over 113,740 ft. win.gs/stratoslive
— Red Bull Stratos (@RedBullStratos) October 14, 2012
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for:
Decisions has been made: Baumgartner will jump. win.gs/stratoslive
— Red Bull Stratos (@RedBullStratos) October 14, 2012
Felix is about to jump! win.gs/stratoslive
— Red Bull Stratos (@RedBullStratos) October 14, 2012
The words spoken by Kittinger to Baumgartner as he stepped out of the capsule were tweeted later:
“Start the cameras and our guardian angel will take care of you.” Joe Kittinger win.gs/UZ8bNb
— Red Bull Stratos (@RedBullStratos) October 15, 2012
Anyone not watching a live feed would have breathed a sigh of relief at this tweet:
Felix has landed safely from his jump from the Stratosphere. win.gs/stratoslive
— Red Bull Stratos (@RedBullStratos) October 14, 2012
At a press conference following the jump Baumgartner revealed that things hadn’t gone entirely smoothly:
“There was a time I really thought I was in trouble. I had to decide to fight all the way down and I finally got stable.” Felix Baumgartner
— Red Bull Stratos (@RedBullStratos) October 14, 2012
He also revealed how special the moment before he stepped out the capsule had felt:
“On the step I felt that The whole world is watching. I said I wish they would see what I see. It was amazing.” Felix Baumgartner
— Red Bull Stratos (@RedBullStratos) October 14, 2012
And how he hoped to inspire the next generation of extreme adventurers:
“I want to inspire the next generation. I want to be in mission control with someone younger than me wanting to break my record.” Felix
— Red Bull Stratos (@RedBullStratos) October 14, 2012
