Origins & Early Life

Felix Baumgartner (German: [ˈfeːlɪks ˈbaʊ̯mˌɡaʁtnɐ]; 20 April 1969 – 17 July 2025) was an Austrian skydiver, extreme sportsman, and BASE jumper. He was widely known for jumping to Earth from a helium balloon in the stratosphere on 14 October 2012 and landing in New Mexico, United States, as part of the Red Bull Stratos project. By doing so, he set world records for skydiving an estimated 39 km (24 mi), reaching an estimated top speed of 1,357.64 km/h (843.6 mph), or Mach 1.25. He became the first person to break the sound barrier relative to the surface without vehicular power on his descent.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He broke skydiving records for exit altitude (38,969.3 metres), vertical freefall distance without a drogue parachute, and vertical speed without a drogue. Although his name is still attached to the last two records, his exit altitude record was broken two years later, when on 24 October 2014, Alan Eustace jumped from 135,890 feet (41.42 km; 25.74 mi) with a drogue. Baumgartner was also renowned for the particularly dangerous nature of the stunts he performed during his career. He spent time in the Austrian military, where he practised parachute jumping, including training to land on small target...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Ali Daei — Contemporary (Born in 1969) (1969): Legendary Iranian striker, celebrated for his prolific goal-scoring record in Asian football.
• Alasdair MacIntyre — Contemporary (Died in 2025) (2025): Influential Scottish-American philosopher known for virtue ethics and political theory.
• Alfred Brendel — Contemporary (Died in 2025) (2025): Czech-born Austrian pianist, composer, and scholar renowned for Beethoven.
• Assata Shakur — Contemporary (Died in 2025) (2025): Black American activist, revolutionary, and fugitive known for her political militancy.
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• Billy Magnussen — Shared historical date (04-20 · Born) (1985): American actor known for film roles in 'Aladdin' and 'Bridge of Spies'
• Adam Smith — Shared historical date (07-17 · Died) (1790): Scottish philosopher and economist, considered the father of modern capitalism.
• Ananya Birla — Shared historical date (07-17 · Born) (1994): Indian businesswoman and artist, daughter of Kumar Mangalam Birla.
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