 | | Monday 1st September 2003
Balloon record attempt - the balloon | |
|  | | Simulation of the record attempt |
| | Find out more about the remarkable balloon that's been specially designed and made for this record attempt. |
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Made from 5 tonnes of polyethylene, the QinetiQ 1 helium balloon will have a volume at 132,000 feet of more than 40 million cubic feet.
At its launch, it will be seven times higher than Nelson’s Column and as high as the Empire State Building, making it 400 times the size of a normal balloon.
In order to make the enormous envelope Andy Elson, one of the pilots, designed a brand new manufacturing process.
Polyethylene load tapes give the balloon its strength and structure.
Despite it being so thin, a puncture is extremely unlikely.
If it did suffer a puncture, the balloon would not explode, as it is not pressurised like a toy balloon.
From their open platform, Andy Elson and Colin Prescot will be able to see the curvature of the earth and at the target altitude will be floating in a virtually atmosphere-free environment.
The flight platform has also been designed to withstand the harsh conditions and meet many different demands.
QinetiQ scientists were involved early in the design process providing advice on aerodynamics and thermodynamics to ensure the platform was stable in the air.
It was also tested for its stability in the water, for when it splashes down into the sea at the end of the flight.
In every test the craft has endured, it has proven itself to be stable, strong, durable and safe. | | | |
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