Post date: Jul 26, 2012 11:45:23 AM
An Austrian daredevil jumps from almost 30 kilometres above Earth in preparation for an attempt to break the world record. Sarah Wali reports.
USA-SKYDIVE - It's a quest to complete a record-breaking skydive, and break the speed of sound.Felix Baumgartner was carried by helium balloon in this capsule to almost 30 kilometres above Earth on Wednesday.
According to Red Bull Stratos, a project using the jumps to gather medical and scientific research data, he executed a free fall of 3 minutes and 48 seconds, at speeds topping 830 kilometres per hour..
FELIX BAUMGARTNER, SKYDIVER, SAYING:
"It was rough the last couple of days because we had no success and all these launches, because the weather was bad all the time, so almost no sleep. It was really, really tough to do it today."
He landed near Roswell, New Mexico in a pressurized space suit equipped with an oxygen supply.
This is the second jump for Baumgartner, as he trains to break the record of a 36 kilometre fall at 1,126 kilometres per hour.
In the next jump, the balloon carrying Baumgartner into the stratosphere will expand to the size of a small skyscraper as it rises.
Sarah Wali, Reuters