Evening star., 1932-08-18
PICARD SETS NEW
ALTITUDE RECORD
Stratosphere Balloon As
cends More Than 10 Miles
Above Swiss Mountains.
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with increasing rapidity. Excursion
trains brought the great crowd in TO
what it considered a sporting event,
something quite different than 1t ap-
peared 70 the hero himself. whose mind
was all on the scientific results.
The professors last words we're ad-
dressed to his children. "Lu revoir, mes
enfants!" till We meet again, my chill
drenD he called out as the balloon rose
and only his head, with its shock Of long
hair curling about his ears. was visible
sticking out of the still open port hole
in the aluminium gondola.
Just before the take-off, he had
breakfasted with his wife and family III
up bravely, although after his previous
flight she made him promise never tc
undertake another. The professor and
his former companion, Paul Kipfer
we're missing so long after last year,
flight that almost everybody, except his
wife, gave him up as lost before ne
landed on mountain near Obergurgl
in the Alps
After the breakfast and just before
he was ready to step into the gondola
he saluted the crowd and then delivered
short radio address. which was broad
cast to the United States.
Oxygen for 30 Hours.
He expected to stay in the air from
5 to 10 hours, he said, but he tool
oxygen enough for 80 hours.
In the gondola on this trip was 8
radio set, but he said he did not inteno
to use it until he began to descend.
After he had climbed into the gondols
and before he took leave Of the chill
dren he beckoned his wife to approach
Calamity, he kissed her hand AS the
balloon scared away few minutes later
the. anxious mother consoled herself
by answering the children's eager ques.
tions about where their daddy wa,
going and why.
Prof Picard said before he left thai
weather conditions we're perfect anC
he was highly satisfied with the prepa.
rations. An hour after the flight the bal.
loon, plainly visible from the airdrome
was still heading over the Austrian
Tyrol
Cosyn began to work immediately
after he entered the gondola and nevel
showed his head again.
Safety Precautions Taken.
1t took three hours to initiate the bi.
balloon and make the last-minut,
preparations for the flight. The ma
neuvering cords and safety valve drew
particular attention. Seeking to avoit
his dangerous experience of last year
when the balloon was becalmed fo
hours at an altitude Of more thar
10000 feet. every precaution was taker
to insule the safety of the passengers
The manhole in the gondola usee
this year is larger. 1t is operated from
the interior of the gondola as is ths
safety valve. which leads through q
tube OF mercury from the balloon
The exterior of the gondola is painted
all white, an improvement suggested
by the near-roasting the occupants
suffered on last years flight when ont
side was painted white and the Other
black.
The black was intended to absorb ths
what the professor expected would bt
freezing temperatures. Instead, the sur
shone so warmly on the metal globt
that the heat was terrific. The white
Is expected to reflect away the sunlight
and keep the gondola cooler.
Instruments Closely Guarded.
The scientific instruments inside tht
gondola have been protected especially
against injury. DR.. Picard Is interested
principally in studying the behavior O.
cosmic rays above the earth He Ii
anxious to check conclusions he made
on his flight last year.
The new gondola weighs about 1,75t
pounds. 1t is fastened to the balloon BY
eight cables, attached on the outside
1t has nine windows. three Of them or
top. permitting a view of the balloon
itself and three others view Of tht
sky. Through three lower window!
the occupants may look down at thu
earth, or the tops of intervening clouds
The trouble on last years flight which
nearly cost the lives of DR.. Picard ane
his companion was caused chiefly BY
inability to open the maphole or tc
operate the safety valve and release thf
gas which was holding them becalmec
at an altitude midway between the
stratosphere and the earth.
The most thorough precautions were
taken this year to prevent recurrence