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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!"
No, the xprize requirement is 65 miles -- another 40 miles more than the stated goal.
...40,000 metres (40 kilometres) up in a balloon 381 metres tall...
At higher altitudes, the air is thinner, drag resistance is less, so terminal velocity is much higher.
In 1960, Colonel Joe Kittinger jumped from 102,800 feet, reputedly reaching speeds of 714mph.
um, I think you mean Columbia,
Actually, I think he means Challenger. When the Challenger exploded during launch, it is believed that the cockpit portion of the shuttle remained intact until impacting the ocean. Had the crew had the ability to jump from altitude, who knows...
Some people have a way with words, and some people, um, thingy.
"Should the suits fail at 35,000 feet (10,668 metres) Andy and Colin would lose consciousness. At 80,000 feet (24,384 metres) the pilots would die within a matter of seconds, as the low pressure would make their blood boil almost immediately."
All this gory talk makes good copy, but it ain't necessarily so: You would lose fluids as vapour from your airways, but this would be gradual. Images of blood boiling in your tortured veins is simply alarmist. Your blood pressure is high enough, and your veinous system is elastic and resilient enough to prevent bulk boiling occurring. More details are here , and essentially all over the web. The seminal publication is "Bioastronautics Data Book, Second edition, NASA SP-3006", which I can't find online, unfortunately. Them Rocket Scientists sure know lotsa stuff!
T&K.
Political language