Parachutist postpones record jump bid

North Battleford, Saskatchewan -- Heavy cloud cover Monday forced the postponement of Frenchman Michel Fournier's attempt at a record parachute jump in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The 64-year-old former French Army colonel postponed the launch of his helium balloon and told reporters he'd try again Tuesday morning, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., reported.

The ascent to 130,000 feet in the specially designed balloon is expected to take more than two hours, while his free fall at more than the speed of sound would take 15 minutes before he deploys his parachute, he told reporters at the launch site near North Battleford, about 85 miles northwest of Saskatoon.

Fournier has a pressurized suit and oxygen tanks to keep him alive at the edge of the Earth's atmosphere. If he achieves his goal, he will set records for highest altitude free fall, highest altitude human balloon flight, time record for longest free fall and the speed record for the fastest free fall.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.