Extreme sportsman Felix Baumgartner, of Austria, announced last week he will try to break the world record jump by skydiving from a balloon from an altitude of 120,000 ft. The record jump has been held by United States Air Force Colonel (Ret.) Joseph Kittinger’s for nearly 50 years.  In 1960 Kittinger made his record-setting parachute jump from a balloon from an altitude of 102,800 feet. During the five-minute freefall Baumgartner will become the first person to exceed the speed of sound with his own body.

Kittinger along with sponsor Red Bull will be assisting Baumgartner in breaking his own record.

“People have been trying to break my records for 50 years, and many have died in the attempt,” Kittinger said. “But I believe that with our unique assets, an extraordinary mission team, the dedication of Red Bull, and Felix Baumgartner’s outstanding skills, Red Bull Stratos will succeed.”

Baumgartner is a BASE jumper—one who parachutes to the ground from fixed structures. He is perhaps best known for being the first person to fly across the English Channel with a carbon wing in 2003.

The record attempt will be made this summer.