Highest free-fall jump postponed to Tuesday due to winds

The Associated Press

Published: October 6, 2012

In this 2010 photo provided by Red Bull Stratos, Felix Baumgartner makes a 25,000-foot high test jump for Red Bull Stratos.

AP/Red Bull Stratos, Luke Aikins

ROSWELL, N.M. - The highest, fastest free fall in history has been postponed.

Red Bull Stratos announced Friday that the jump by extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner have been moved from Monday to Tuesday thanks to a cold front with gusty winds. The jump can only be made if winds on the ground are under 2 mph for the initial launch a balloon carrying Baumgartner.

The man dubbed "Fearless Felix" is attempting to become the first skydiver to break the sound barrier. If he doesn't, a gruesome demise could be live-streamed on the Internet for the world to see.

Rigged with cameras, the 43-year-old former military parachutist from Austria is scheduled Tuesday to jump from 23 miles over the southeastern New Mexico town of Roswell.

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