Skydiver Felix Baumgartner becomes the first man to break the sound barrier after leaping from 128,097 feet, breaking the record for the highest skydive. Felix Baumgartner’s Red Bull Stratos mission was his second attempt, after last week’s aborted bid.

Felix Baumgartner jumped for four minutes and 19 seconds before opening his parachute. 43-year-old skydiver Felix Baumgartner also smashed the record for the highest manned balloon flight after riding with the capsule 24 miles above New Mexico.

Skydiver Felix Baumgartner also achieved the fastest freefall after reaching a top speed of 834mph (1,342km/h) and broke the sound barrier. ”Sometimes you have to go up really high to realise how small you are” - Felix Baumgartner’s words, as he stepped to the edge of the capsule and saluted the camera.

Skydiver Felix Baumgartner’s jump was not without obstacles. A minor problem had developed as Baumgartner’s capsule ascended when a heater failed on his helmet faceplate, which meant his visor became fogged when he exhaled. However, it did not deter him from jumping.

Skydiver Felix Baumgartner’s biggest risk came in spinning out of control, which could have exerted enough G-forces to make him lose consciousness. At one point, he seemed to have become unstable, but he managed to get himself into a flat, controlled position for the rest of the skydive. Moreover, Felix Baumgartner’s jump had been scheduled from 120,000 feet, but the balloon went higher than expected, to just under 128,000 feet.

The previous record for the highest jump was held by Colonel Joe Kittinger, who jumped from an altitude of 102,800 feet (31,333m) in 1960. Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner, however, was unable to break Col Kittinger’s record for the longest time spent in freefall. Baumgartner’s total of four minutes and 19 seconds fell 17 seconds short.

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