Remember back in the 50's the US military needed to test their equipment from a height of over 30 thousand feet? Why not try and beat the record? Go all the way to the edge of the atmosphere and then jump out of a gondola.
As an aside, make a big enough gondola and then 4 or more skydivers could make a run at it. Most of the challenges are still the same and no less dangerous. Lastly those who try it get to enjoy a free fall time only one man in all of history has experienced.