More on High-Altitude Balloonists

An anonymous reader writes "The Guardian reports on an attempt at the record for the highest balloon flight. 'A bag of helium the size of the Empire State building to challenge Nasa record.'" We had an article about them a few months ago.

Comments

BBC has it to

[Gantic]

"So a few days ago"

read at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/03/b allooning/html/default.stm

Re:We can replace the space shuttle

[PhysicsExpert]

I know that you meant this as a joke but there is acyually an idea (very much at the conceptual stage at the moment) along similar lines produced by the chinese space agency.

What they have proposed is to put a large platform at about 20000 ft, from which they could launch small rockets, thereby greatly reducing the amount of fuel that needs to spent overcoming the giant gravity well. Both the platform and the rockets could be put into position by the use of balloons, although hydrogen rather than helium would probably be used as it has a higher specific impulse.

Now to be fair this is really only a conceptual idea, and the new chinese space shuttle will probably render it unnecessary but it prove to be useful for smaller space industries who lack the infrastructure needed for traditional launches.

YOU=Anal Retentive

[youaredan]

You know, that shit called humor... the stuff that doesnt have reality applied to it--- Geez, pull the coal out of your ass its a diamond by now.

I'm sure they'll be fine!

[siskbc]

...they have quality Russian-made pressure suits. ;)