25 Oct 2014

Google boss breaks space jump record

Alan Eustace, a top executive for technology giant Google, breaks the sound barrier as he jumps from space to beat Felix Baumgartner’s record skydive two years ago.

Google executive Alan Eustace went through the sound barrier as he broke the skydiving record set by Austrian Felix Baumgartner in 2012.

After nearly three years of planning, Mr Eustace was carried by a large helium balloon from New Mexico to over 25 miles above the Earth.

The 57-year-old reached a top speed of 822 mph after leaping out in a specially-designed space suit.

Paragon Space Development Corporation masterminded the project, which has been running secretly for several years to devise a self-contained commercial spacesuit for use 20 miles above the Earth’s surface.

The relatively low-key jump took place without the publiclity and sponsorship that accompanied Mr Baumgartner’s skydive.