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A daredevil skydiver is to attempt a life-threatening jump in which he will try to freefall from the edge of space, it was announced today. Felix Baumgartner plans to plunge 125,000 feet - 23 miles - down to earth in a mission that would see him break the sound barrier.
He will make the leap with the aid of just a thin, parachute-like balloon, according to the BBC who are going to film the event. Baumgarner, who was born in Austria, has been preparing for two years for the jump for which he is being helped by engineers at Nasa and U.S. Air Force.
It is due to take place later this year in the U.S. and is being filmed for a documentary by the BBC as part of their 2010 celebration of science programmes.
Executive producer Gary Hunter said: 'This is a fascinating blend of scientific challenge and human endeavour.'
It is half a century since U.S. Air Force captain Joe Kittinger made aerospace history by freefalling from 102,900 feet.
This jump contributed valuable data that set the groundwork for America's first space programme.
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