Daredevil to attempt record freefall to Earth from balloon on edge of space

A former member of the Austrian special forces turned daredevil Felix Baumgartner (a.k.a ‘Fearless Felix’) is planning to break the freefall record from a hot air balloon from the edge of space, 36 kilometres from earth.

The attempt will see him drop further and faster than anyone else before.

“When I jump, I”ll be going on a journey that no one has ever done. But you absolutely can”t let fear take a hold of you,” News.com.au quoted him as saying.

Backed by Red Bull and a team of engineers that includes ex NASA scientists, a purpose built balloon and pressurised capsule will take him into the stratosphere.

Baumgartner will be passing through the sound barrier, the effect of which in unknown on the human body.

[via News.com.au]