Skydiver breaks sound barrier in record space jump

ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner landed safely on Earth after a 24-mile jump from the stratosphere in a dramatic, daring feat that may also have marked the world’s first supersonic skydive.

Baumgartner landed in eastern New Mexico desert minutes after jumping from his capsule 28,000 feet, or 24 miles, above Earth. He lifted his arms in victory shortly after landing, sending off loud cheers from onlookers and friends inside the mission’s control center in Roswell, N.M.

It wasn’t immediately certain whether he had broken the speed of sound during his free-fall, which was one of the goals of the mission.

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