One giant leap for a skydiver

The capsule and attached helium balloon carrying Felix Baumgartner lifts off as he attempts to break the speed of sound with his own body by jumping from a space capsule Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in Roswell, N.M. If all goes well and he survives the jump, NASA could certify a new generation of spacesuits for protecting astronauts and provide an escape option from spacecraft at 120,000 feet.

Credit: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin