right. “Explain that.”
“Again, we had technical difficulties,” he replied.
“You mean the balloon material split again?”
Matthews shuffled his feet in agitation. “There was a rupture, not in the seam, but in the envelope itself and the balloon deflated. I think it’s fair to say that we’ve been pretty unlucky. Last year, we were on the verge of giving up altogether when NASA contacted us with this sponsorship proposal. With NASA’s financial help and professional input, we’re ready for the challenge, more than we’ve ever been. All we need now is a good weather forecast.”
“What will the environment up there be like and are you prepared if something goes wrong?” another reporter yelled from the back of the room.
Sutcliffe took that one. “We’ll be approximately twenty five miles above the Earth’s surface, above ninety nine percent of the Earth’s atmosphere where pressure is one hundred and fifty times less than at sea level, literally on top of the sky,” he explained. “The stratosphere air temperatures remain relatively constant until we reach the target altitude where it gradually increases to reach a maximum temperature of around minus four or five degrees Centigrade in a virtually airless atmosphere. The low air pressure is enough to make blood boil instantly. Four years ago, the Russians supplied us with pressurised spacesuits and kindly assisted us with our training. NASA has injected money, which has gone into building a stronger, safer balloon. If there’s a problem with the balloon after launch, we’ll detach the gondola from the envelope and parachute back to Earth. We’ll also be equipped with reserve parachutes attached to our spacesuits in the unlikely event we need to abandon the gondola. Otherwise, we’re prepared for every eventuality we may encounter, as we have been in previous years.”
“What happens if the helium in the balloon expands too much when you’re high up in space? Won’t the balloon pop?”
“The balloon is designed to leak so it maintains equilibrium with the outside air. Otherwise, yes, the pressure build - up would explode the balloon.”
Both Claris Faraday and Keith Burch were infinitely more com-fortable speaking publicly with only a handful of media. Before a large crowd, they equally succumbed to nervousness and were worried about saying the wrong thing. That was why they’d both been relieved when Sutcliffe and Matthews had offered to do all the talking. Faraday had avoided any discussion about her involvement so far, but she knew it was only a matter of time before that changed. Sutcliffe and Matthews were co - captains communicating progress to Ground Control and Matthews was the flight expert. Burch would monitor navigation and GPS tracking and he was the balloon’s craftsman and Hennessey was NASA’s responsibility.
“Miss Faraday,” a reporter called out. Camera lights blasted on her and the heat made her sweat. Slowing her breathing to slow her thumping heart, she braced herself while the man stood up. “Is your role to be the same as last year, with the cameras?”
Throat dry, she coughed to clear it, her fist covering her mouth, then pulled up her cardigan sleeves. “It is, yes, although…when we reach an altitude of about fifty to sixty thousand feet, where we can’t be seen from the ground, I’ll be setting off black smoke bombs to indicate our position.”
Faraday’s mind went blank for a second, forgetting the initial question, before she remembered and was able to continue. “Once we’ve settled at float altitude and the balloon has expanded to full size, I’ll release a camera and microwave transmitter. NASA has supplied us with a miniature version of the solar - wing similar to the Helios, which will carry the camera. The images will be broadcast live to F1 Mission Control Base in St. Ives, Cornwall, and live across the world.”
“How do you feel about this year’s launch?”
“I’m quite
“Again, we had technical difficulties,” he replied.
“You mean the balloon material split again?”
Matthews shuffled his feet in agitation. “There was a rupture, not in the seam, but in the envelope itself and the balloon deflated. I think it’s fair to say that we’ve been pretty unlucky. Last year, we were on the verge of giving up altogether when NASA contacted us with this sponsorship proposal. With NASA’s financial help and professional input, we’re ready for the challenge, more than we’ve ever been. All we need now is a good weather forecast.”
“What will the environment up there be like and are you prepared if something goes wrong?” another reporter yelled from the back of the room.
Sutcliffe took that one. “We’ll be approximately twenty five miles above the Earth’s surface, above ninety nine percent of the Earth’s atmosphere where pressure is one hundred and fifty times less than at sea level, literally on top of the sky,” he explained. “The stratosphere air temperatures remain relatively constant until we reach the target altitude where it gradually increases to reach a maximum temperature of around minus four or five degrees Centigrade in a virtually airless atmosphere. The low air pressure is enough to make blood boil instantly. Four years ago, the Russians supplied us with pressurised spacesuits and kindly assisted us with our training. NASA has injected money, which has gone into building a stronger, safer balloon. If there’s a problem with the balloon after launch, we’ll detach the gondola from the envelope and parachute back to Earth. We’ll also be equipped with reserve parachutes attached to our spacesuits in the unlikely event we need to abandon the gondola. Otherwise, we’re prepared for every eventuality we may encounter, as we have been in previous years.”
“What happens if the helium in the balloon expands too much when you’re high up in space? Won’t the balloon pop?”
“The balloon is designed to leak so it maintains equilibrium with the outside air. Otherwise, yes, the pressure build - up would explode the balloon.”
Both Claris Faraday and Keith Burch were infinitely more com-fortable speaking publicly with only a handful of media. Before a large crowd, they equally succumbed to nervousness and were worried about saying the wrong thing. That was why they’d both been relieved when Sutcliffe and Matthews had offered to do all the talking. Faraday had avoided any discussion about her involvement so far, but she knew it was only a matter of time before that changed. Sutcliffe and Matthews were co - captains communicating progress to Ground Control and Matthews was the flight expert. Burch would monitor navigation and GPS tracking and he was the balloon’s craftsman and Hennessey was NASA’s responsibility.
“Miss Faraday,” a reporter called out. Camera lights blasted on her and the heat made her sweat. Slowing her breathing to slow her thumping heart, she braced herself while the man stood up. “Is your role to be the same as last year, with the cameras?”
Throat dry, she coughed to clear it, her fist covering her mouth, then pulled up her cardigan sleeves. “It is, yes, although…when we reach an altitude of about fifty to sixty thousand feet, where we can’t be seen from the ground, I’ll be setting off black smoke bombs to indicate our position.”
Faraday’s mind went blank for a second, forgetting the initial question, before she remembered and was able to continue. “Once we’ve settled at float altitude and the balloon has expanded to full size, I’ll release a camera and microwave transmitter. NASA has supplied us with a miniature version of the solar - wing similar to the Helios, which will carry the camera. The images will be broadcast live to F1 Mission Control Base in St. Ives, Cornwall, and live across the world.”
“How do you feel about this year’s launch?”
“I’m quite
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