Video: Felix Baumgartner: first space jump attempt 'a total disappointment' That was a total disappointment, honestly. But as long as we have a spare balloon, and as long as we have more launch opportunities, I'm good," Baumgartner said later. If successful, Baumgartner would be the first parachutist to break the sound barrier but not the first person to fall faster than the speed of sound. In 1966, Bill Weaver, a test pilot aboard an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft, was ejected over the United States from his damaged plane at Mach 3.18 - more than three times faster than the speed of sound - and survived. Baumgartner's goal is to break the record of 102,800 feet (31,333m) for the highest-altitude freefall, a milestone set in 1960 by US Air Force Colonel Joe Kittinger. As he falls from 120,000 feet (36,576m) Baumgartner would also break the sound barrier. With virtually no air to resist his fall, he was expected to reach the speed of sound, which is 690mph (1,110kph) at that altitude, after about 35 seconds of freefall.