Felix Baumgartner Jump: 'Red Bull Stratos' Skydiver's Record Attempt On Weather Hold

ROSWELL, N.M. -- Plans for extreme athlete and skydiver Felix Baumgartner to make a death-defying, 23-mile free fall into the southeastern New Mexico desert were on hold Tuesday morning due to winds, but his team was still hoping the weather would clear after sunrise in time to make the jump. The 43-year-old former military parachutist from Austria planned to take off in a 55-story, ultra-thin and easy-to-tear helium balloon that would take him into the stratosphere for a jump that he hopes will make him the first skydiver to break the sound barrier and shatter three other world records. Mission meteorologist Don Day said winds on the ground were an ideal 1 to 2 mph, but were 20 mph at the balloon-top level of 700 feet. "We need 3 mph or less at 800 feet," Day said, putting the chance of a launch Tuesday at "50-50. When the sun comes up we will know a lot more. We are very, very close today." Weather conditions have delayed the launch, but lift off is still expected today in the mission to have a man skydive from the Stratosphere (36km), the highest ever freefall. As part of Red Bull’s Stratos mission to the edge of space, Felix Baumgartner will ascend for three hours in a stratospheric balloon to 120,000 ft or around 36.58km. He will make a freefall jump to the earth, reaching supersonic speeds. His supporting team of expert includes retired United States Air Force Colonel Joseph Kittinger, who holds three of the records Baumgartner is attempting to break Today, over the skies of Roswell, N.M., Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner will attempt to break the high-altitude freefall record that has held strong for 52 years. The Red Bull Stratos mission will be covered live by Discovery News, Discovery Channel and Velocity. Follow @Discovery_News, @Discovery, @VelocityTV1 and the hashtag #SpaceJumpLIVE on Twitter for live updates and commentary.