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!"
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.
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...
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!
The manhigh project in the late 50's early 60's included a parachute jump from about 100,000 feet. This was about the height that the Challenger exploded and the jump shows that the crew of the Chalenger could have survived had the technology developed in the manhigh project been avilable to them.
The guy who jumped reached a speed of over 700 miles per hour for part of the fall.
Acording to NOVA, the standing record is 113,739.9 ft (~ 35 km) was set in 1961. Back then however these people were pretty hardcore, as it was too technical to pilot the balloons back down, they would jump (with a parachute).
My grandfather and his brother were some of the balooning pioneers in the US, and I actually had the oppertunity (when I was much younger) to acompany my grandfater taken up in a balloon by Joe Kittinger (first altitude record of ~100,000 ft and the longest freefall to date-where he actually broke the sound-barrier unaided by propultion other than gravity). We didn't go to 100 kft but even back then (I think I may have been about 7) it was quite an experience.