The balloon was launched from an abandoned airstrip near Tularosa, northeast of Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, at 5:29 am

The gondola rested in a flatbed truck acting as launch vehicle. The balloon was hold in vertical position launch by a crane.

At launch time a first squib was fired to separate balloon from the crane and a second one to cut the truck straps.

The balloon raised at 1200 feet / minute and initially heading to east.

After reaching near float altitude the balloon started to travel west to the target area.

Captain Kittinger jumped from a height of 102,800 feet, at 7:12 am.

With only the small stabilizing chute deployed, him fell for 4 minutes, 36 seconds.

He experienced temperatures as low as minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum speed of 714 miles per hour, exceeding the speed of sound.

The 28-foot main parachute did not open until Kittinger reached the much thicker atmosphere at 17,500 feet.

He finally safely landed in the New Mexico desert after a 13 minute 45 second descent.