Atlantic Crossing Attempt in Hydrogen Balloon Cut Short by Weather
Key Ideas
- British explorer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, along with two other aeronauts, attempted the first transatlantic crossing in a hydrogen balloon from Maine but had to land in Canada after 7 hours due to weather conditions.
- The team faced challenges with the balloon requiring higher altitude and more ballast than planned, resulting in the decision to land before reaching Europe.
- Despite the disappointment, the crew is safe and plans to attempt the challenge again in the future when conditions allow, aiming to set a record for the longest distance covered in a hydrogen balloon.
- During the voyage, the team conducted experiments on particles from forest fires and their impact on atmospheric conditions, with their living space being the small balloon basket throughout the journey.
British explorer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, American balloon manufacturer Bert Padelt, and Swiss scientist Dr. Frederik Paulsen attempted to cross the Atlantic in a hydrogen balloon from Presque Isle, Maine. Despite two previous postponements due to bad weather, they finally took off to cheers from supporters. However, the balloon needed to fly higher than planned, requiring more ballast. After flying for about seven hours, they decided to land in Canada as they wouldn't have enough ballast to reach Europe. The crew, though disappointed, prioritized safety and landed near Christies Landing in New Brunswick. Their living quarters were the small balloon basket, where they also conducted experiments on forest fire particles affecting atmospheric conditions. The attempt, if successful, would have marked the first transatlantic crossing in a hydrogen balloon and potentially set a record for distance covered. The team plans to retry the challenge in the future. Gas balloons like the one used differ from hot air balloons and are usually utilized for unmanned research flights.