Roswell residents root for Fearless Felix

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - The excitement surrounding Fearless Felix's world record-setting jump was boiling over in Roswell.

Locals and out-of-towners gathered Sunday morning near the launch site to witness history.

"I woke up at like 4-o'clock woke up everyone else and came here at 5!" said 11-year-old Kevin Karimian who couldn't wait to see the event.

> Photos: Fearless Felix & his Big Fall

Onlookers packed the dirt field at the Roswell International Air Center, all hoping to get a glimpse of Felix Baumgartner's launch to the stratosphere. The jump from more than 23 miles above the earth, set a new record.

Crowds cheered as the mission became imminent when the balloon that would carry him to the death-defying height inflated.

"Good luck Felix!!!" shouted Roswell resident Kevin Kelly. "You've got a big crowd here so I hope all goes well!! We'll be watching!"

Then the world watched as Baumgartner climbed higher than his goal, more than 24-miles up, with the city of Roswell far below him.

"It's just amazing the guts that guy has got to be up there," exclaimed Julian Quiroz.

The balloon took nearly two and a half hours to climb before Felix opened the capsule door, and with a final salute from space, viewers held their breath as he leapt, and free fell back to earth.

The world watched online.

More than four minutes later, another celebration, the international daredevil and local celebrity landed safely on the ground. His mission was accomplished. Roswell residents rooted for him the whole time, and say they're proud he graced their skies.

"Congratulations, you're a hero!" exclaimed Jasmine Red. "I was like, I'm watching something, you know," commented NMMI student Austin Curtis. "I'm watching history happen right in front of me. I'll be able to tell future generations I was there, I saw this. It was in my town."