ROSWELL, N.M. (WKOW) -- Extreme athlete and skydiver Felix Baumgartner has canceled his planned death-defying 23-mile free fall into the New Mexico desert because of high winds.
The 43-year-old former military parachutist from Austria had hoped to become the first skydiver to break the sound barrier and shatter three other world records. But the weather on Tuesday forced his team to cancel his planned ascent in a 55-story, ultra-thin helium balloon that was to take him to the stratosphere.
Because the balloon is so delicate, it could only take flight if winds were 2 mph or below.
*********
ROSWELL, NM (WKOW)-- Preparations for extreme athlete and skydiver, Felix Baumgartner, will make a death-defying 23-mile free fall into a southeastern New Mexico desert are on hold.
His 120,000 foot jump has been put on hold due to high winds. Baumgartner's team says winds on the ground are still, but are high in the teens at about 700 feet, which is about the height of the top of the balloon. Baumgartner's team is on hold, hoping the winds die down in time to get the mission prepped and the helium balloon launched before the window for a high altitude flight closes around 10 a.m. Mountain time.
Baumgartner is trying to break a free-fall record. A balloon will take him into the stratosphere. The trip will take three hours. He'll be wearing a special helmet and a pressurized suit. He's hoping to break through the sound barrier, going more than 690 miles per hour. No one has ever done that outside of a vehicle.
