Balloon Splits, Challenge Over For Now | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.14.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.16.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.17.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Thu, Sep 04, 2003

Balloon Splits, Challenge Over For Now

Inflation Didn't Go Well

49-year-old Andy Elson, and 53-year-old Colin Prescot's manned balloon mission to space has been aborted due to a last minute technical hitch during the balloon inflation.

The launch crew on RV Triton, the launch/recovery trimaran, reported that there was a twist in the QuinetiQ1 balloon's envelope as it came off its delivery drum.

Pending a closer inspection of the balloon, it is thought that the twist may have caused the helium already in the top of the balloon to come under pressure to blow out a seam.

The balloon inflation was always recognized as being one of the most complex parts of the mission and nothing like this has ever been attempted before.

Andy Elson led his team of twelve people in Glastonbury, who designed and built the balloon envelope, including the development of a unique manufacturing process. The 1,270-foot tall balloon was designed to break a 40-year-old altitude record, set by a US Navy team at 113,740 feet.

Mission Control Director, Brian Jones said: "The whole QinetiQ 1 crew is understandably upset by this setback. We only had a one-off shot with the balloon today, so as soon as the problem arose the pilots had no choice but to abort the mission."

QinetiQ Managing Director David Anderson said: "QinetiQ has backed and continues to back this mission, as we have done over the last two years. The whole QinetiQ 1 team will now assess how the project will go forward and a decision will be made in due course."

Andy Elson told reporters, "When we get it right, it'll work and when it works, we'll get a record and when we get a record, we'll come back and we'll have a cracking party." As for the remains of the balloon, he said it's not destined for a museum: "It'll go back into the melting pot and come out as bin bags."

This envelope had never been inflated. A new envelope will be constructed for the next attempt. Just when that will be, is still up in the air. though the weather is better, sooner, in the Southern Hemisphere, it's likelier the QuinetiQ team will wait until at least Spring, to try again from in, or near, England. 132,000 feet is the goal.

FMI: www.qinetiq.com/homepage/qinetiq1.html

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.15.25): Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach

Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach An approach conducted while operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot of an aircraft to proceed >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.15.25)

“When l became the Secretary of Defense, I committed to rebuild our military to match threats to capabilities. Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.15.25)

Aero Linx: Stearman Restorers Association Welcome to the Stearman Restorers Association. The Stearman Restorers Association is an independent “Not for Profit” 501C-3 Co>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Kjelsrud Gary Kitfox

Airplane Exhibited A Partial Loss Of Engine Power When It Was About Halfway Down The Runway Analysis: The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane was departing from his pr>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Cessna A150L

The Flight Path Was Consistent With Low-Altitude Maneuvering On June 18, 2025, about 0922 mountain standard time, a Cessna A150L airplane, N6436F, was substantially damaged when it>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC