Baumgartner Broke Sound Barrier

Baumgartner completed his awe-inspiring jump on Sunday. Photo by Red Bull Stratos

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner has become the first man to shatter the sound barrier in a free-fall jump, it has been confirmed.

Baumgartner completed his awe-inspiring jump on Sunday, breaking the record for the highest ever skydive by jumping out of a balloon 128,000ft (24 miles, 39km) above New Mexico. The 43-year-old was hoping also to break the sound barrier during his descent, but that mark awaited confirmation.

It is now clear that Baumgartner accelerated to 833.9 mph (1,342km/h) during his dramatic dive.

None of the new marks set by Baumgartner can be classed as "official" until endorsed by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI).

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