I don’t know about you – but I couldn’t stand the excitement of watch this space jump!!! I cried tears of joy….

Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner made it into the history books Sunday, skydiving from a balloon flying 23 miles above the planet and breaking the sound barrier.

Felix Baumgartner prepares to jump.

The 30 million-cubic-foot plastic balloon, is roughly as thin as a dry cleaner bag.

Felix Baumgartner prepares to jump.

Here in Orlando, it should be extra special to folks. Baumgartner broke a 52-year-old high altitude parachute jump record held by project adviser and Orlando’s own Joe Kittinger.

In 1960, Kittinger, now a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, jumped from a balloon flying at 102,800 feet and fell for 4 minutes and 36 seconds before opening his parachute. Baumgartner hopes to top that with a jump from 120,000 feet and freefall for 5 minutes and 35 seconds.

Look at how proud Joe is of this achievement!

Joe is an amazing man.  He and his wife do so much for the Central Florida community.  I have been lucky enough to meet him on a number of occasions.  This one is my favorite…a going away party for my former co-worker Scott Harris – who was the biggest fan of Kittinger’s.

From left to right, Joe Kittinger, Jennifer Cook, Scott Harris

It’s amazing day in history – one that Scott Harris would love and I’m sure he watched from the heavens loving it all.

Energy drink manufacturer Red Bull sponsored the skydive. The firm declined to disclose how much the project or its advertising campaign would cost.

But it’s not all about advertising.  Besides breaking several records, including highest-altitude freefall, longest freefall and highest manned balloon flight, Baumgartner and his team hope the jump will help engineers working on spacesuits for NASA and the budding commercial space tourism industry.

Felix Baumgartner lands safely in New Mexico.

Here’s a look back at Joe’s jump – history is cool.