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Largest Balloon Ever

Posted by michael on from the except-for-the-dot-com-bubble dept.

bitpusherdotorg writes "The UK's Colin Prescot and Andy Elson are in the midst of preparations for their upcoming attempt at setting a new world balloon altitude record in July. The pilots will make their ascent in the largest helium balloon ever constructed, on an open flight deck (!) with nothing but a pair of tailor made Russian spacesuits to keep them breathing. Why pay 20 million for a shuttle when you can just balloon it?"

6 of 30 comments (clear)

  1. parachute record by Lepruhkawn · · Score: 3, Informative

    What I'd really like to see is one of these guys try and break Joe Kittinger's parachute jump record (102,500 feet). The film of him jumping off that balloon was wild.

    Official website link

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    1. Re:parachute record by jeboyer · · Score: 2, Informative

      It looks like there are a couple of people just crazy enough to try it!

      One claims to be planned for "March 2002". Seeing as we haven't heard either splat or cheer, I don't know what the current status is.

      The other appears to be currently scheduled for April 2003.

  2. Re:So, what are _they_ doing? by QuodEratDemonstratum · · Score: 2, Informative

    Andy Elson, at least, is very much an engineer

  3. Similar ballon, plus a jump! by morcheeba · · Score: 3, Informative

    This sounds similar to this australian attempt: check this article and this (better) article.

    Summary: 2 guys in spacesuits taking a giant helium balloon to 40km. In the vacum of space, they'll descend at 1600-1800 kph (994-1118 mph), becoming the first man to break the sound barrier unaided (that's cool!). Plenty of video taken for marketing opportunities.

    The funny thing is that both of these ballons claim to be going to the "edge of space" at 40km, but the traditional definition (and the one used for the X-prize) is 100km. By that standard, I guess I have beach-front property!

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  4. Re:biggest balloon ever? by hubie · · Score: 3, Informative
    The 40 isn't the largest balloon out there, it is (just as you stated) the largest that is part of Raven's "off the shelf" stock. I think they used to make 52's, and I'm sure if you come with the proper amount of money, they can accomodate larger sizes. I'm not sure who makes these balloons overseas.

    The goal of 40km should not be a problem for these guys if they have a successful launch. I was part of a research team that launched a 2000 lb payload to over 42 km on a 40 Mcft balloon, so if these guys get a larger balloon than that, it should be that much easier. The manned balloon altitude record, by the way, is 113,740 ft set in 1961 from the Strato-Lab V platform by US Navy pilots Malcolm Ross and Vic Parther.

    An excellent history of setting the manned balloon altitude record can be found in David DeVorkin's Race to the Stratosphere .

  5. Re:parachute by hubie · · Score: 4, Informative

    You are referring to Kittinger's 76,000 ft jump. He got tangled in his drogue (it wrapped around his neck) and passed out. An automatically deployed emergency chute saved his life. On his 102,000 ft jump he was in danger of losing his hand because his glove depressurized.