Next Gen News

grave of a helium balloon on the New Mexico desert before the planned jump altitude of 23 km

Felix Baumgartner, who plans to break the sound barrier to jump from 23 miles above Earth this summer, has made more than half way in an essay on the New Mexico desert.

Austrian skydiver, known as Fear Felix, jumped more than 13 km altitude after ascending in a balloon with helium. It is considered the third person to jump from a height of free fall to a safe landing - and the first to do so in 50 years. Registration is conducted by the U.S. Air Force pilot Joe Kittinger, who jumped from 19.5 miles in 1960.

"I am now a member of a very small club," said Baumgartner.

He tested the pressurized capsule full of pressure and demand for use in a few months of unprecedented freefall. The additional protection is necessary because there is virtually no atmosphere at these heights.

"I really could not feel my hands in free fall because it was so cold. We need to work on this, "he said.
30 meter helium balloon and pressurized capsule Baumgartner took off from Roswell, New Mexico, on Thursday morning. It jumped 13.6 miles and landed safely eight minutes and eight seconds later, according to a spokesperson, Trish Medalen. She said it had reached speeds up to 364.4 mph and has been in freefall for three minutes and 43 seconds before pulling the strings of the parachute.