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March 4, 2012 7:00 PM   Subscribe

 
Awwwww.
posted by Renoroc at 7:07 PM on March 4, 2012


That is so cool!
posted by Meatafoecure at 7:30 PM on March 4, 2012


Full negative thrust.
posted by charlie don't surf at 7:38 PM on March 4, 2012


It's all fun and games until one of these balloons smacks the International Space Station.
posted by bicyclefish at 7:38 PM on March 4, 2012 [1 favorite]


Speaking of the ISS, JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa built a Lego model of the station while on the station.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:41 PM on March 4, 2012 [1 favorite]


I remember some guy did a lift by balloon, then jumped out and parachuted to the ground. Maybe it was an early NASA test or something? My question - why don't people do that more often? That would be so cool, going to almost space for the price of a big helium balloon.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:42 PM on March 4, 2012


Whooops, hit post too soon, here's the link, about the Lego ISS model. Also, there's a Lego model of the Hayabusa probe.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:45 PM on March 4, 2012 [1 favorite]


My question - why don't people do that more often?

Because it's terribly risky and you'd basically need a spacesuit to survive, would be my guess.

It's all fun and games until one of these balloons smacks the International Space Station.

I'm assuming you're not serious, but just in case. The ISS orbits at something like 230 miles or so in altitude. This balloon went to 35,000 m. This smacking into the ISS is not a real thing that can happen with these balloons.
posted by IvoShandor at 7:47 PM on March 4, 2012


Oh and, Joseph Kittinger is probably the guy you're thinking of Meatbomb.
posted by IvoShandor at 7:48 PM on March 4, 2012 [1 favorite]


Meatbomb, you're probably thinking of Joseph Kittinger or Wiley Post.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:50 PM on March 4, 2012


I remember some guy did a lift by balloon, then jumped out and parachuted to the ground. Maybe it was an early NASA test or something?

Project Excelsior. The main reason that you don't see that sort of thing anymore is that the benefit of sending a person vs. an automated sensor package doesn't outweigh the risks. At least for science. Red Bull's trying to do it as an advertising stunt.
posted by radwolf76 at 7:51 PM on March 4, 2012


I just read the article about the Hayabusa space probe, graciously contributed by our submitter, which states it maintained the 'operation of ion engines for more than 1000 hours'. I had not realized such programs existed and even less that a probe was capable of landing on a meteor.
posted by Meatafoecure at 8:17 PM on March 4, 2012


I remember some guy did a lift by balloon, then jumped out and parachuted to the ground.

The Dayvan Cowboy video. It's a big step off the balloon platform.
posted by jjj606 at 9:12 PM on March 4, 2012 [1 favorite]


The main reason that you don't see that sort of thing anymore is that the benefit of sending a person vs. an automated sensor package doesn't outweigh the risks. At least for science.

I am thinking people would pay to do it, just for the fun. Going to almost space for a few grand would be most excellent.
posted by Meatbomb at 9:30 PM on March 4, 2012


Going to almost space for a few grand would be most excellent.

Buy your ticket now. $200k with a $20k deposit required.
posted by charlie don't surf at 9:43 PM on March 4, 2012


Maybe I'm just in a sensitive mood, but the start of this video made me feel like there was something in my eye. Good stuff.
posted by JauntyFedora at 11:41 PM on March 4, 2012


Not just you...
posted by the_artificer at 11:47 PM on March 4, 2012


If I had all the money I'd go to the edge of space without a second thought. Lifetime goal, that.
posted by Eumachia L F at 2:00 AM on March 5, 2012


How did they get it back? I saw one of these before and the balloon launchers were really lucky because winds guided the camera back to a nearby forest, but I imagine it could get lost really easily.
posted by notseamus at 5:39 AM on March 5, 2012


Get it back? Uh oh...
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:13 AM on March 5, 2012


Gentlemen, we must not allow a Legos In Space gap.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:32 AM on March 5, 2012


Gentlemen, we must not allow a Legos In Space gap.

Challenge Accepted.
posted by charlie don't surf at 10:28 AM on March 5, 2012


Are we really going to let those igloo living, husky loving foreigners beat this great nation of ours? Somebody find another credit card, we have a mission for NASA!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 10:35 AM on March 5, 2012


Challenge Accepted.
posted by charlie don't surf at 11:07 AM on March 5, 2012


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