Olav Zipser is working on using a rocket to boost himself to a higher altitude than Felix Baumgartner and would take the free-fall record:
http://www.synergymoon.com/freeflyastro.html
The rocket is powered by nitric acid and turpentine.
This hopefully is leading to a rescue system for astronauts that would allow them to safely return to Earth without a conventional reentry vehicle.
Ron Wanttaja