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