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Ballooning into Space

Posted by michael on from the acrophobia dept.

flyboy writes: "Two ballooners are going to attempt to get to 132,000 feet in a helium balloon named QinetiQ1. They are going to do this wearing spacesuits and sit in what looks like armchairs in an open gondola. From that altitude the sky is black and you look down on whole countries in one go. It looks like they might actually do it as well, since they have some serious backing, they are sponsored and supported by the former DERA, who have lots of experience in all things aeronautic."

2 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. It may not be just a joy ride... by jdrogers · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I wouldn't discount this as a hairbrain idea from some thrill seekers. If you look at the cost of launching any payloads to that altitude, it makes the cost of specialized ballons look a lot better. I'm not sure what the use of getting people up there is, but as stated in the post, there isn't much atmosphere above you and hence not much turbulance, so things like short, month-long telescope missions and other scientific observation could be done much cheaper.

    If I can dig up some links I've seen about this, I'll post.

    Cheers,
    JD

  2. Use this as a launch vehicle??? by burtonator · · Score: 5, Interesting

    OK. Just some crazy thinking...

    Did you guys see this picture:

    http://www.qinetiq1.com/gfx/large_balloon.jpg

    That is a HUGE balloon!

    Now here is my thinking...

    Remember the Hindenburg? (sp?)

    What if this actually worked and on the next attempt they fill the balloon with Hydrogen?

    If they built a special gandola which was a SMALL spacecraft, they could use the hydrogen from the balloon as fuel and possible exit the earths orbit.

    Would this work? I don't have access to any of the math behind this so someone with experience could help.

    ... and we all know that everyone on Slashdot is a Rocket Scientist!