World Record Skydive on Aug. 16, 1960, Col. Joseph Kittinger stepped from a balloon-supported gondola at the altitude of 102,800 feet. He was in freefall for 4.5 minutes at speeds up to 614 mph and temperatures as low as -94 degrees Fahrenheit, he opened his parachute at 18,000 feet. The record still stands today. Picture from the U.S. Air Force.