One Small Step For Man, One Giant Step For Redbull – Watch Felix’s Record-Breaking 128K FreeFall

Red Bull gives you wings, and apparently it gives you a capsule to jump 128k feet from Earth’s stratosphere too. In their latest marketing stunt, Red Bull endorsed Felix Baumgartner to complete one of the most enthralling missions to date: Hop in a capsule ascended by a helium balloon 128,100 feet in the air; when you get to the top, jump.

On October 14, 2012 Mr. Baumgartner, an Austrian daredevil, successfully completed the mission. As a YouTube commentator noted, “He must  must need a wheelbarrow to carry around those gigantic balls.” Ahem.

So what does it feel like to see the world from more than 24 miles away? Mr. Baumgartner explained, “Trust me, when you stand up there on top of the world, you become so humble. It’s not about breaking records any more. It’s not about getting scientific data. It’s all about coming home.” The 43-year-old former Austrian paratrooper changed history when he stepped off into the abyss, plummeting to earth at a maximum speed of 833.9 miles per hour/Mach 1.24.

Mr. Baumgartner is reported to have broken both altitude and speed records set in 1960 by Joe Kittinger who is now 84. Mr. Kittinger, a retired Air Force colonel, joined the Red Bull Stratos team and guided the daredevil via mission control during the freefall.

Felix Baumgartner posted a surreal photo (below) of himself jumping off the capsule, the blue void of Earth below him. His accompanying comment: “I would do this again.”

Watch a recap of the record-breaking jump below:

Via NYT