No More Oldsmobiles
05-27-2008, 01:39 PM
NORTH BATTLEFORD - An apparent malfunction has thwarted French skydiver Michel Fournier's attempt to freefall from the edge of the stratosphere.
Fournier, 64, a retired army colonel, got off to a promising start early Tuesday. By shortly after 5 a.m., one truck honk sounded and a small helium balloon was floated into the sky. Moments later, two honks sounded, and the balloon was released from the clamp. Members of Fournier's team let out hurrahs: Launch time was finally here.
Their glee, however, lasted for just seconds. There was a pregnant pause as the balloon floated skyward and Fournier's capsule remained unmoving.
"Isn't it supposed to be attached?" someone asked.
... The assembled crowd of journalists and spectators watched the adventurer's $200,000 balloon float up to space, attached to nothing.
World-record attempt a no-go
Hot air balloon floats into space without French skydiver Michel Fournier (http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=978ee2ae-fe75-4a2f-bac1-a55aec11824b)
Fournier, 64, a retired army colonel, got off to a promising start early Tuesday. By shortly after 5 a.m., one truck honk sounded and a small helium balloon was floated into the sky. Moments later, two honks sounded, and the balloon was released from the clamp. Members of Fournier's team let out hurrahs: Launch time was finally here.
Their glee, however, lasted for just seconds. There was a pregnant pause as the balloon floated skyward and Fournier's capsule remained unmoving.
"Isn't it supposed to be attached?" someone asked.
... The assembled crowd of journalists and spectators watched the adventurer's $200,000 balloon float up to space, attached to nothing.
World-record attempt a no-go
Hot air balloon floats into space without French skydiver Michel Fournier (http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=978ee2ae-fe75-4a2f-bac1-a55aec11824b)