Supersonic skydive faster than thought

File image provided by Red Bull Stratos shows pilot Felix Baumgartner of Austria as he jumps out of the capsule during the final manned flight for Red Bull Stratos.

File image provided by Red Bull Stratos shows pilot Felix Baumgartner of Austria as he jumps out of the capsule during the final manned flight for Red Bull Stratos.

Published Feb 7, 2013

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Vienna - Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian skydiver who jumped from the edge of space in October, fell at 1.25 times the speed of sound, even faster than thought, organisers said on Wednesday.

According to a final analysis by Baumgartner's team Red Bull Stratos, the 43-year-old reached 1,357.6 kilometres an hour, or Mach 1.25, in freefall.

Previously his team had said that the experienced skydiver had plunged back to Earth in his specially made spacesuit at 834 miles an hour or Mach 1.24.

The Federation Aeronautique Internationale governing body is currently reviewing whether to confirm this as a world record, Red Bull Stratos said.

Baumgartner's leap from a capsule at 38,969.4 metres above California on October 14 was watched live by millions on television and the Internet. - Sapa-AFP

The final data available at: http://www.redbull.com/en/stories/1331581680039/red-bull-stratos-rel ease-mission-data

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