Balloon Pop

John,
I posted a link to your blog and new vdeo in the news section.

With regards to the pop in the latest video, do you know how to stop this happening again? And if so when will the next video be?

Any chance of seeing the last few seconds in reltime? i thought the speeded up day was a great way to cover more in a short time!

Rob

Hi Rob,

The problem was the line handling. We were so focused on the new balloon and ring fitting we didn't watch out for the lines to the balloon. Normally there is only one person in the bag with the balloon, our balloon whisper. However we had everyone going in and out all day walking on and tangling up the tether lines.

It didn't help that we were all trying to smile and look good for the film crew from Nat. Geographic. We did a cursory job straighting out the lines before launch, but that wasn't enough.

Post inspection showed both the main and backup line to balloon broke on bad tangle knots. We blew threw two lines with a thousand pounds breaking strength each with 62 pound of balloon load.

It wasn't tech that caused the problem it was procedures. However, it's just the kind of thing you WANT to happen on a test. It will stick in the team members brains and be up front and center in their thoughts during a real flight.

The balloon release on the video is in real time. It's followed by the release in half speed.

JP

www.jpaerospace.com

Thanks for the info
I hope you got through all of your tasks scheduled on the 1st!
I look forward to the next video, are Nat.Geographic filming any more? Will the videos be available on their channel? or perhaps DVD?