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