Felix Baumgartner: First manned skydiving test flight

Felix Baumgartner prepares to jump in the first manned test flight for Red Bull Stratos over Roswell, New Mexico.

The Austrian lifted off aboard a helium balloon for the test jump. He rode inside a pressurised capsule to an altitude of 13.6 miles (21.8 kilometres), then jumped.

Baumgartner is aiming for nearly 23 miles (37 kilometres) this summer. The record is 19.5 miles (31.3 kilometres).

For comparison, commercial jets generally cruise at over 30,000 feet (9 kilometers).

Baumgartner reached speeds of up to 364.4 mph (586.4 kph) and was in free fall for three minutes and 43 seconds before pulling his parachute cords.

The entire jump lasted eight minutes and eight seconds...

Picture: EPA/Jay Nemeth / GLOBAL NEWSROOM