Slashdot Mirror
Balloonists Attempt World Altitude Record
ACey writes "BBC News is reporting on the latest attempt to break the balloon altitude world record. Qinetiq 1 is scheduled to launch tomorrow, 2nd September 2003, from the coast of Cornwall, UK, and aims to reach 132,000 feet or 25 miles in a flight that could last 12 hours. The balloon is so big (1,250 feet tall) that it should be visible from most of the UK, Ireland and Western France as it climbs. Good luck to them!"
Note: I fully realize that to reach that altitude, they would have to use helium. Grow a sense of humor.
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The first transmission from the balloon will be "Can you hear me now?
Trolling is a art,
Because he can. Are you new here?
I knew if I wanted to conceal the departure of our ancient alien visitors I too would construct a 1,200 foot balloon and tell people it was trying to break an altitude record.
This just prooves our alien overlords point - we deserve to get our brains eaten.
Hate to break it youy bud, but I got my Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB rifle, and your'e not going anywhere!
;)
Sorry to burst your bubble.
See here.
Selected quote:
"The two men will not eat during their mission, and they are hoping they will not have to go to the toilet either. A special fibre-free diet will begin three days before the trip in the hope that waste will be kept to a minimum."
All I can say is -- Holy crap!
after seeing hot grits like this, I'm now convicing my wife that I should go high-altitude balooning asap. If only I could explain the mandatory difference in male and female costumes
When will I end this grieving ? When will my future begin ?
Experimental balloon, launched from an experimental boat, wearing experimental space-suits, followed by an experimental spy-plane.
;)
Paid for by.... a large anonymous donation?
Actually its 100km. Get with the program.
Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
With a good high-gain antenna, they should be able to access wireless LANs for quite a distance. Were I in the vicinty, I would be honored to have them posting their progress through my network.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
...they'll achieve altitude records without even leaving the ground.
They say the first thing to go is your penis. Well, it's either that or your brain. I forget which...
I write this letter to you balloon pilots in hopes that when you are up there you will do me a favor.
About a week ago I tied lil Sparky, our family Chiwwawwawa, to about ten helium balloons to see if they could lift him off the ground. Needless to say, it did. After ten minutes of riding my Green Machine through town following poor old Sparks I lost sight of him some where near the Rockies.
So, if you happen to see Sparky some where up there in the great wild blue yonder during your travels will you fetch him for me? Don't know if this is possible cause the kid next door who is into h4ck1ng and Slashdot and all that other stuff keeps saying something about the decrease in atmospheric pressure at those heights and that either the balloons will pop or Sparky's large intenstines will explode. Either way bad news for Sparks. So PUH-LEASE keep on the lookout for a dog with ten balloons tied to his collar.
Jimmy Smigerwitz
PS. He will be the dog with the Red Power Rangers collar in case you see more dogs tied to balloons up there.
Actually it was British jerks (the word behind the first initial in BBC does give away the plot a bit). But yes, I do agree with your elegantly stated request. Believe it or not, the British Army went metric in, I think, around 1948. The rest of the country will doubtless catch up with the rest of Europe shortly after Hell freezes over.
Panurge has posted for the last time. Thanks for the positive moderations.
Maybe you mean light-microseconds?