Austrian Felix Baumgartner breaks sound barrier in record space jump

Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner celebrated his unprecedented feat today after becoming the first man to break the sound barrier in a record-shattering, death-defying freefall jump from the edge of space.

Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner celebrated his unprecedented feat on Monday after becoming the first man to break the sound barrier in a record-shattering, death-defying freefall jump from the edge of space.

The 43-year-old leapt from a capsule more than 24 miles (39 kilometers) above the Earth Sunday, reaching a top speed of 833.9 miles (1,342 kilometers) per hour, or 1.24 times the speed of sound, according to organizers.

The veteran skydiver was in freefall for four minutes and 20 seconds before opening his red and white parachute and floating down to the desert in the US state of New Mexico, said Red Bull Stratos mission record keeper Brian Utley.

Mission control erupted in cheers as Baumgartner sprung from the capsule hoisted aloft by a giant helium-filled balloon to an altitude of 128,097 feet (39,044 meters), even higher than expected.

"I think 20 tons have fallen from my shoulders. I prepared for this for seven years," he told German-language ServusTV in Austria in his first interview after the leap.

A combination image shows Felix Baumgartner's jump during the final manned flight for Red Bull Stratos. Reuters/Red Bull Stratos Content Pool/Handout

Felix Baumgartner jumps out of the capsule during the final manned flight for Red Bull Stratos. Reuters/Red Bull Stratos Content Pool/HO