2011-08-14

Bloon's Near-Space Ship: Balloon Powered Space Travel

Near-space flight experience, Inbloon
http://www.inbloon.com/en/index.php

Travel to Near-Space in a 400-Foot Diameter Balloon | Autopia | Wired.com
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/08/inbloon
  • A Spanish entrepreneur wants to give you a glimpse of the black expanse of space and the curvature of the earth from a most unusual vantage point — a balloon.
bloon's flight simulation - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWfzQ1YckUQ&feature=player_embedded

BBC - Travel - Space travel powered by helium : Adventure
http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20110811-space-travel-powered-by-helium-balloon
  •   Bloon flights will launch at night, so passengers can watch the sun rise over the curvature of the earth. (Bloon)
  • “Bloon” is a six-person pod designed by Spanish company zero2infinity that will rise to the edge of the atmosphere, powered by a helium balloon. The cabin holds four passengers and two pilots for the three-hour flight, 36km above the earth’s surface. The flights will launch at night, so passengers can watch the sun rise over the curvature of the earth. While admiring the world from near space, in-flight information about the altitude and range of view will be displayed directly on the pod’s windows. To return to earth, the helium is vented slowly, then the balloon or sail separates from the pod, deploying a parafoil. The pod pops its airbags and is guided in for a landing. Bloon uses zero propellants, so there are no emissions or noise pollution.
bloon Overview
http://www.inbloon.com/en/near-space-flight/overview.php
    • bloon by figures:  
      •   Travelers: 4
      •   Crew: 2 pilots
      •   Options for arranging the space: open 4 or 2+2 isolated
      •   Maximum altitude: 40km
      •   Nominal altitude: 36 km
      •   Height of the sail at nominal altitude: 96.5 m
      •   Diameter of the sail at nominal altitude: 129 m
      •   Pod diameter: 4.2 m
      •   In-flight information: displayed on each window
      •   Landing attenuation system: 8 vented airbags
      •   Recovery system: guided parafoil with conical backup


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