Parachutist Jumps From 18 Miles Up

Skydiver "Fearless Felix" Baumgartner is working his way up to a record-breaking jump from 23 miles up, and today he jumped from a height of more than 18 miles. His altitude was an estimated 96,640 feet—almost three times more than the cruising altitude for planes, the AP notes. The 43-year-old Austrian daredevil landed safely near Roswell, New Mexico, while being monitored by Joe Kittinger, who holds the current jump record: 19.5 miles.

It’s Baumgartner’s second test jump and a personal record; he jumped from more than 13 miles up in March. The third and final leap, from 125,000 feet, is planned in late August or early September; if successful, Baumgartner hopes to hit supersonic speeds and break the sound barrier with his body. This time around, like last time, he was lifted in an enclosed capsule attached to a large helium balloon and wore a full-pressure suit complete with an oxygen supply. He was in freefall for 3 minutes, 48 seconds. (More Felix Baumgartner stories.)