Narrator:Felix Baumgartner's mission depends entirely on one of the least heralded but most remarkable pieces of equipment a balloon.
Narrator:It's the oldest flying machine of them all. 'People have been flying balloons for over 200 years. But this one sets a new standard. It's the biggest ever designed for a manned flight, and it means Felix will enter the record books even before he jumps.
Art Thompson:So Felix is going to set another record that we really don't think about, which is the largest manned balloon ever flown.
Narrator:The balloon built for Felix will hold 30 million cubic feet of gas.
Narrator:Although it's incredibly thin, it's designed to carry a capsule, the weight of a car, 39km up. It will be filled with helium until it's as tall as a 50 storey building.
Art Thompson:It's amazing that this piece of plastic that is no thicker than a dry-cleaner bag is going to hold up all this weight.
Art Thompson:There's a series of nylon strings that run through that balloon material to be able to carry the weight.
801:01:26:02 01:01:31:20Narrator:As the balloon climbs, the helium expands until it is the width of a football field.
Art Thompson:On launch, the balloon is a teardrop shape. But as it goes up into the atmosphere, where you're going into a near-vacuum, that gas bubble is expanding. So the balloon ends up in almost a circular size.
Narrator:When the atmosphere outside the balloon thins to the point where its density equals that of the gas inside the balloon, it can no longer climb. Felix will have reached the end of his epic balloon journey.
Narrator:At least, that's the theory. The problem is the balloon is very difficult to launch. The team sends up weather balloons called pibals to measure wind speeds. Felix's balloon is so big it needs near-perfect calm to inflate. Not just at ground level, but all the way up its height. Only when the pibals are perfectly aligned is it safe to begin the launch.
Narrator:But on the team's first attempt, wind speeds changed suddenly.
Narrator:With disastrous results.
Joe:Felix, the winds came up. We'll have to abort.
Felix:No way.
Narrator:The team had to wait for a second chance a few days later. They used their reserve balloon, and this time, conditions were perfect. The launch was successful.
[CHEERING]
Joe:Release.
[CHEERING]
Narrator:Felix set a new record for the highest ever manned balloon flight.
Joe:You're climbing, Felix. You're on the way to space, buddy. And you're going up just great.
Felix Baumgartner's mission depended on one of the least heralded but most remarkable pieces of equipment - a balloon. To take him 24 miles above the earth鈥檚 surface, Felix flew the largest manned balloon ever. It was as tall as a fifty-storey building and held 30 million cubic feet of helium. So even before Felix jumped he had entered the record books.
Teacher Notes
You could use this clip to stimulate a discussion about air density. Students could be asked to consider why the balloon is filled with helium or why decreasing atmospheric pressure has an effect on the balloon's shape. Students could also talk about the effects of weather conditions on similar projects. This is the second of six clips from 鈥楾he Science of Space Dive鈥 and this clip could be used in conjunction with the others.
Curriculum Notes
This clip could be relevant to teaching Science at KS3 and KS4 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and at National 4/5 or Higher in Scotland.