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Skydiver to Attempt 23 Mile Jump

By Space.com

Credit: Jay Nemeth / Red Bull Content

Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner gets set to leap from his capsule at an altitude of roughly 71,500 feet on March 15.

September 25, 2012 Updated Sep 25, 2012 at 2:41 PM PDT

An Austrian daredevil plans to leap from nearly 23 miles above the Earth on Oct. 8 in a supersonic plunge that, if successful, will be the world's highest-ever skydive.

If all goes according to plan, a helium-filled balloon will lift off from Roswell, N.M., on Oct. 8 and carry Felix Baumgartner 's custom-built capsule to an altitude of 120,000 feet.

The daredevil will then step out of the capsule into the void, breaking a skydiving record that has stood for 52 years.

Baumgartner's 2,900-pound capsule was damaged in a hard landing during a July 25 practice run from 97,146 feet forcing a delay while repairs were made.

But on Monday, officials with Red Bull Stratos — the name of Baumgartner's mission — declared the capsule fit for launch and set Oct. 8 as the target date for the skydiver's " space jump."

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