From: LARRY KLAES (ljk4_at_msn.com)
Date: Fri Aug 01 2003 - 11:48:49 PDT
Balloonists to Attempt to Reach Edge of Space
Brian Handwerk
for National Geographic News
July 31, 2003
A 42-year-old record may fall this summer when two British balloonists attempt to shatter the world altitude mark for manned balloon flight. Andy Elson and Colin Prescot are waiting for a weather window during which they hope to pilot the QuinetiQ1 to 132,000 feet (40,000 meters)—the very edge of space.
Andy Elson, 49, is an aeronautical engineer who piloted the world's first hot air balloon flight over Mount Everest in 1991. The Wells, Somerset native has been working to design, build, and prepare to fly the QuinetiQ1.
Colin Prescot, 53, from Stockbridge, Hampshire is a commercial balloonist and managing director of Flying Pictures Ltd. He will co-pilot QuinetiQ 1 and relay images of the flight back to Earth.
An expert team backs the two pilots on an effort that has been several years in the making. The QuinetiQ 1 attempt was planned for the summer of 2002, but unstable weather and solar activity postponed the launch.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/07/0731_030731_spaceballoon.html
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