NEW ALTITUDE RECORD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18208, 2 October 1933, Page 5

NEW ALTITUDE RECORD

RUSSIANS’ SUCCESS : NEARLY 12, MILES UP I ‘ SIX HOURS IN THE AIR (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received October 2, 11 a.m.) MOSCOW, Sept.’so. The stratosphere balloon, TJ.S.S.R., piloted by M. George Propokiev and two companions, reached an altitude of 60,796 ft., beating Professor Piccard’s record. v f Tim TJ.S.S.R. took off in perfect weather at. dawn. 1 She shot up at the rate of 6ft. a .second,-immediately established wireless communication with the earth, "and, in 42 minutes, claimed to have over 10 miles, adding: ‘‘Wo are feeling fine.” In '*ls7 minutes the balloon had passed Professor Piccard’s record, and was still rising. . The oxygen apparatus was working well. The- •temperature within the aluminium gondola, which is painted silver grey, was .71 degrees. The balloon was visible in Moscow, and finally' landed at Kolomansky, 70 miles from Moscow, after 6hrs. l7min. It claimed that the instruments' recorded 19,000'metres, approximately 11J miles.- . ' ' •/' '-y "1 . :

The- hullbou, '-wHieh.' is- 117 ft. iq dia.metet, Was,' filled ,with. - 3Qt>o jnubic metres of aaSd which vMs ' eiper'ted td expand eightfold during the ascent. After at first dropping at a rate of only one mile* an hour, the latter stages oUthe descent were made with extraordinary rapidity. *M.' Propokiev's companions were M. Ernest Birnbaum, an engineer, and M. O- D.’ Goudonov, a ..scientist. Inter-, viewed,’-all, said they were tired, but in .excellent physical condition. M; Propokiev said the ascent exceeded 19,000 metres, but the precise altitude would: be > shown when ’ the Government commission examines the sealed barograph. When he landed, ,M. Propokiev harangued the enthusiastic crowd, describing the flight as a victory for the Communist Party and the proletariat.

On August 18 of last year, Frofessor Auguste Piccard, accompanied by M. Max Cosyns, reached a height of 16,700 metres, nearly 10| miles, ascending from Zurich and landing on the shores of Like Garda.