|
|
|
Briefs: Balloon record attempt fails
LONDON: A split seam on their giant balloon forced two British balloonists on Wednesday to call off their record breaking bid to ascend to the limits of the earth’s atmosphere about an hour before take off.
The QinetiQ 1 mission had aimed to break the world altitude record for a manned balloon flight set at 34,440 metres over 40 years ago by American balloonists.
The pilots, Andy Elson, 49, and Colin Prescot, 53, were to have been suspended on an open platform beneath a 1,270-foot helium balloon — as tall as the Empire State Building — with polyethylene walls as thin as a household freezer bag.
According to the launch crew there was a twist as the balloon came off its drum, putting the helium in the top of the balloon under pressure and causing one of the seams to split.
The planned launch from a ship off the coast of Cornwall in southwest England had already been delayed for 24 hours because of bad weather.
“The reason for the abort is that we didn’t have enough helium to repair and refill and this was always a one-off shot with the balloon. There is no additional envelope as there is only one drum that fits on the ship,” he said. —Reuters
|
|
|
|
