Skydiver Baumgartner Lands Highest Ever Jump

Video cameras relayed the moment Baumgartner stepped from his balloon capsule to begin his fall to Earth. Photo by BBC

Austrian Felix Baumgartner has broken the record for the highest ever skydive by jumping out of a balloon 128,000ft (24 miles, 39km) above New Mexico, BBC reported.

The 43-year-old was hoping also to break the sound barrier during his descent - although that mark awaits confirmation.

Video cameras relayed the moment Baumgartner stepped from his balloon capsule to begin his fall to Earth.

It took about 10 minutes for him to reach the desert surface below.

Only the last few thousand feet were negotiated by parachute.

Helicopter recovery teams have gone to the Austrian's landing site to return him to the mission control centre set up at Roswell airport.

There was concern as Baumgartner went through his last minute checks in the capsule, and found that a heater for his visor was not working. It meant his visor fogged up as he exhaled.

"This is very serious, Joe," he told retired US Air Force Col Joe Kittinger, whose record he was attempting to break, and who was giving him commands.

They decided to go ahead. He appeared to spin as he fell, before regaining stability.

After touching down he raised his arms in victory, while his family, watching from the launch site, stood, cheered and hugged.

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