One small step for mankind..
28th November 1996, Page 21
28th November 1996
Page 21
Page 21, 28th November 1996
— One small step for mankind..
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Keywords :
Aviation, Aeronautics, Ballooning, Balloon, Gondola, Aerospace Engineering, Hot Air Balloon, Spacecraft, Orbiter, Ventilation, Breitling Orbiter, Environment
©y colleagues are used to talking to transport companies who are full of hot air, but Poole-based EC Transport will take no offence when I describe a recent load as exactly that. It was a two-person orbiter gondola, on its way to Lausanne to house pilots Bertrand Pittard and Wim Verstraeten in their attempt to circumnavigate the world by hot-air balloon. The attempt could take place anytime between now and the end of January when, it seems, weather conditions become perfect for this type of thing. The capsule has many features inspired by spacecraft, including high-density nickel-hydrogen batteries to capture solar energy for ventilation and lighting equipment.