INTO THE STRATOSPHERE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 23, 19 August 1932, Page 6

INTO THE STRATOSPHERE

PROFESSOR PICCARD'S VENTURE TEN MILES UP IN A BALLOON Press Association.—Copyright. ZURICH, Aug. 17.—When Professor Piccard rose in his balloon for the stratosphere at dawn, today his wife and five children waved farewell. Professor Piccard is accompanied by his assistant, Mux Cozyns. Ho aims to vine over ten. miles and obtain photographs and data of the cosmic rays. The balloon when spread on the ground before its inflation measured 100 ft in diameter. The airtight aluminium gondola in which the aero, mints are sealed weighs sewt and is connected to the gas bar, by 32 (rabies. it contains wireless equipment and delicate instruments to measure the cosmic rays, also four cylinders ol oxygen and regenerating apparatus, enabling the occupants to live for 30 hours, and if necessary G 4. The flight is creating enormous interest. Professor PiysaH ascended from Hie bubeudbrf aerodivme in the pre. aenco of 30,000 spectators, including ],.•. Hugo HJckener (the Graf Zeppelin commander). Professor Piccard wirelessed at 10 a.m., reporting that he was Hi) between. 14,000 and 15,000 metres up (about 49,000 ft), ' over Tyrol. All was well. Visibility was good and his investigations of solai conditions were; proceedings satisfac V fily. Later lie wirelessed: "We are halt-way up," indicating that he was intending to break last year's record by a wide margin. The balloon earlier presented a beautiful sight in the clear atmosphere and the white gondola was visible from many towns. A Swiss aeroplane pilot who accompanied Professor Piccard part of the way returned after an hour's Hying. lie reported, that the balloon alter reaching 15,000 ft ascended too fast for Ihe aeroplane to keep pace,