Austrian Set to Become 1st Human to Break Sound Barrier Unaided

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner will attempt to become the first human to break the sound barrier without the help of a vehicle.

If the weather permits, Baumgartner will jump out of a balloon at more than 36.5 km above Roswell, New Mexico, aiming to accelerate beyond 1 110 km/h withing 40 seconds.

If all goes well, he will open a parachute near the ground to land softly in the desert, 10 minutes later, BBC informs.

"If something goes wrong, the only thing that might help you is God," Baumgartner has said ahead of what is expected to be the fastest, farthest free fall from the highest-ever manned balloon.

Energy drink maker Red Bull, which is sponsoring the feat, has been promoting a live Internet stream of the event at http://www.redbullstratos.com/live from nearly 30 cameras on the capsule, the ground and a helicopter, The Washington Post says. But organizers said there will be a 20-second delay in their broadcast of footage in case of a tragic accident.