ROSWELL, N.M. (October 8, 2012)--Veteran skydiver and extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner, 43, hopes to take the leap of his life on Tuesday, as he attempts the highest, fastest free fall in history.

If he falls fast enough, the man dubbed "Fearless Felix" could be the first skydiver to break the sound barrier.

His high-risk jump will be live-streamed on the Internet for the world to see.

Rigged with cameras, the former military parachutist from Austria is scheduled to jump from a balloon-hoisted capsule 23 miles above southeastern New Mexico near Roswell.

But whether he and his capsule get off the ground depends on the weather.

A breeze of more than 2 miles per hour is too risky for the huge, but delicate balloon that will carry him into the stratosphere.

Energy drink maker Red Bull sponsors the project.