Riedel delivers world-record tech for Red Bull Stratos sky jump

Riedel Communications provided the entire communications solution for the Red Bull Stratos, the 39,044-metre skydive from the edge of space, integrating both wireless and wired digital intercom systems. Additionally, Riedel furnished the fibre-based video and signal distribution as well as the wireless video links from the capsule’s on-board cameras.

Baumgartner enters the camera-covered capsule that would carry him 39,044-metres into the sky.

Felix Baumgartner, renowned extreme base jumper and sky diver, ascended to 39 km in a stratospheric balloon and made a freefall jump rushing toward Earth at supersonic speeds before parachuting to the groundbreaking three world records with one jump: the highest skydive, the longest free fall, the first to reach supersonic speeds in free fall, and the highest manned balloon ride.

For enabling reliable communication between Baumgartner, all the team members at the launch site, and mission control, Red Bull used a comprehensive communications solution from Riedel Communications.

Thanks to Riedel technology, the Red Bull Stratos team on the ground were able to control all nine live cameras attached to Baumgartner’s capsule.

In the Capsule
For the capsule that transported  Baumgartner into the stratosphere, Riedel provided the on-board video-control system for nine HD video cameras with specially developed telemetry control. This system was responsible for the control of the video recording and also works as a comprehensive digital video router — not unlike a mini OB truck inside the capsule. It offered complete remote control of the whole video system and featured three HD video downlinks that were dynamically assigned to the selected cameras. For providing a reliable communication between Baumgartner and Mission Control, a specially developed communications solution from Riedel is used.

Riedel provided both the audio/video signal flow and the communications infrastructure for Red Bull Stratos Mission Control.

Ground-based solutions for Mission Control & Broadcast
The communications infrastructure on site included the entire compound, the mission control, the production offices, the media/press center, and the OB truck. All these facilities and positions were integrated into one single communications infrastructure via a Riedel Artist Digital Matrix system. Artist is a fibre-based communications solution that offers flexible, reliable, and decentralized communications in broadcast-quality audio. The redundant ring topology makes Artist systems a reliable solution for mission-critical applications, such as the Red Bull Stratos project.

Furthermore, Riedel furnished the on-site digital radio network with more than 100 radio receivers and 10 channels, which were seamlessly integrated into the wired matrix intercom system. This means radio users were able to directly talk to intercom users and vice versa.

All video signals on ground were distributed and routed with Riedel’s MediorNet technology. MediorNet is a fibre-based real-time network for HD video, audio, communications, and data signals and also provides integrated signal-processing saving time, cost, and effort in installation and maintenance. For the Red Bull Stratos project, 24 Riedel MediorNet nodes were installed in a redundant ring topology to provide maximum reliability. In case of a potential connection loss between two nodes, the signals would have still been distributed thanks to the redundant topology. The connection to the launchpad of the capsule was also realised with the MediorNet system – this time with two MediorNet Compact frames connected to the main system. All links in the MediorNet system were realised with Riedel PURE, a tactical fibre cable for demanding mobile applications that is equipped with ruggedized Neutrik OpticalCON Quad connectors.

The MediorNet backbone transported all video signals of the Red Bull Stratos mission as well as all signals from the OB truck and from the tracking truck. It also distributed the broadcast audio between Mission Control and the recording facility. Furthermore, the data of the telemetry that was used for some broadcast applications, such as the Moving Map, was transported via MediorNet.

In addition to the video transport, MediorNet also served as a network backbone for the on-site Internet connection providing the Ethernet connectivity in all areas of the compound.