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More on High-Altitude Balloonists

Posted by michael on from the what-goes-up dept.

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.

13 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. uh oh! by garcia · · Score: 5, Funny

    their lives will depend on exquisitely accurate weather forecasts

    They're doomed.

  2. Just remind them... by StaceyRey · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...to pack a pellet gun and a brown-bag lunch. After the balloon comes down (after crossing LAX's approach path, of course), the lawn chair used for the flight will be up for auction on eBay.

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  3. Visible by WebfishUK · · Score: 4, Informative

    Worth noting that the ballon is so large that once airborne it will be visible over a radius of some 600 miles. Its being launched on the south coats of cornwall so most of England, Ireland and Wales and Northern France will be able to see it.

    I bet the bastards launch at night though....

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    -- "Can't sleep, clowns will eat me!"
    1. Re:Visible by mountain_penguin · · Score: 4, Informative

      saw a program on this on the TV the other night
      The flight is going to take 9 hours and they are going to launch in the morning to be home in time for tea

  4. Having Read the Article by Jonsey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Their claims are full of hot air.

    Someone was gonna say it. You know it.

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  5. Optimists... by perly-king-69 · · Score: 4, Funny

    "The two adventurers need cloudless skies, high pressure, gentle winds and a 72-hour forecast in which they can be confident." ..and they're flying from SW England?!!!

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    This sig is inoffensive.

  6. Boiling Blood by LudditeMind · · Score: 5, Informative

    At about 44,000ft, you need to be wearing a pressure suit, because if not the blood will start to heat and actually boil.

    It's my understanding that the blood wouldn't actually heat, it would boil because of the lack of pressure. Am I wrong?

    1. Re:Boiling Blood by Rolo+Tomasi · · Score: 4, Informative

      Yeah, people don't just explode in vacuum. I think the notion comes from bad movies ... the only realistic scene depicting humans in vacuum that I can remember was in 2001, where that Dave guy gets back into the spaceship. He even correctly uses the escaping air to propel himself into the ship. Pretty cool if you think about it.

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  7. Just Scary? by C0deJunkie · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "We have done some pretty vivid demonstrations of putting half a pint of water in a decompression chamber and decompressing it to 100,000ft and the water boils and explodes in less than half a second, just disappears. It's scary stuff,"
    And this is just scary??
    I really hope their pressured suite are going to keep them safe from this....or we will see a really bad picture at their return....
    Is anyone beside me asking himself if this adventure is just worth the risk?

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  8. Stop modding up arts students.... by MosesJones · · Score: 4, Insightful


    As the balloon rises the atmosphere gets less dense, hence it rises slower. This is why the balloon is so large to enable _some_ lift at 25 miles. This is still not high enought for satellites which are in the 00s of miles altitude.

    So it can't replace the shuttle or rockets.

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  9. Mission Want Ad by WC+as+Kato · · Score: 4, Funny

    Want Ad
    -------
    Wanted 2 open minded people willing to create scientific history by piloting the world's largest craft to record setting heights. See beautiful scenery of the Earth and heavens not seen by most people.

    Fine print
    ----------
    The high-tech craft is really a giant thin walled helium balloon with a small gondola
    Inaccurate weather forecast may kill you
    Oxygen will be forced into your lungs
    Your blood may boil
    Your blood may vaporize
    You must withstand the terror of impending death for at least 12 hours
    Spacesuit made in Russia.
    Solid 'low-residue' foods must be consumed before flight
    If everything is not perfect, death arrives within 30 seconds.

    We are an equal opportunity employer. All are encouraged to apply. Principles only. Do not bring lawyers.

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  10. Re:Blood heats in partial pressure? by mountain_penguin · · Score: 4, Interesting

    nasa say that this would not happen and that you can survive for upto a half a minute without ill effects. "You do not explode and your blood does not boil because of the containing effect of your skin and circulatory system. You do not instantly freeze because, although the space environment is typically very cold, heat does not transfer away from a body quickly."

  11. Re:cool thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    "However, by diving or "standing up" in free fall, any experienced skydiver can learn to reach speeds of over 160-180MPH. Speeds of over 200MPH require significant practice to achieve. The record free fall speed, done without any special equipment, is 321MPH. Obviously, it is desirable to slow back down to 110MPH before parachute opening."

    - http://hypertextbook.com/facts/JianHuang.shtml

    How did he get enough speed to break the sound barrier? He would have needed a jet to speed his descent or something like that.

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