By Michael Oleaga / m.oleaga@latinospost.com | First Posted: Oct 14, 2012 12:07 PM EDT


SKYDIVER FELIX BAUMGARTNER IS SEEN DURING PRACTICE ATTEMPT TO FREEFALL CROSS ENGLISH CHANNEL. (Photo : Reuters)

UPDATE: Watch the rebroadcast of the world record skydive here.

Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner is set to break a world record from 23 miles high today.

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Currently in a helium balloon in Roswell, New Mexico, the parachutist plans on becoming the first human to break the sound barrier without propulsion or a vehicle.

The dive was set last Monday but was postponed due to wind conditions. The dive was rescheduled for last Tuesday but again was scrapped.

If successful, Baumgartner could be the first to break the sound barrier and surpass American Air Force colonel Joseph Kittinger's record dive of 19.5 miles (102,800 feet) on Aug. 16, 1960.

Kittinger has been helping Baumgartner prepare for today's dive.

"I practiced this for so many years and now we are almost there," said Baumgartner. "So this is my biggest dream, and we are one step closer."

There are safety concerns once Baumgartner exits his balloon. NBC News noted the air pressure is less than one percent of what's on Earth's surface. The lack of pressure can create bubbles to form in the blood as well as the body to swell. Another concern will be the freezing temperatures.

Watch the skydive, courtesy of Red Bull Stratos, below:

 

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