Skydiver's supersonic plunge stalled by rough fall

[August 17, 2012]  PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Skydiver Felix Baumgartner will have wait until fall before attempting a supersonic jump from 23 miles up.

The Austrian was all set to take the plunge high above the New Mexico desert at the end of this month. But on a dry run in late July, the capsule that hoisted him to an altitude of more than 18 miles was damaged. The space-like capsule landed on a rocky, uneven surface and fell over.

Organizers said this week that the craft needs to be rebuilt and tested before Baumgartner attempts his grand finale. It's getting new life-support systems and a new outer shell.

Baumgartner hopes everything will be ready by early to mid-October. He aims to break the sound barrier by jumping from 125,000 feet. The current record is 102,800 feet.

[Associated Press; By MARCIA DUNN]

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