Soviet Balloon's Record Ascent

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7278, 4 October 1933, Page 9

Soviet Balloon's Record Ascent

“VICTORY POR PROLETARIAT.” United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph —Copyright. MOSCOW, Oct. 1. The stratosphere balloon, U.S.S.R., which yesterday ascended to a record height, was 117 ft in diameter and was filled with 3000 cubic metres of gas, which was expected to expand eightfold during the ascent. After a-t first dropping only a mile an hour, at the latter stages the descent was made with extraordinaryrapidity. M. Propokiev’s companions were Ernest Birnibauni, an engineer, and 0, D. Goudonov, scientist. Interviewed, they said they were afl tired, but in excellent physical condition. M. Propokiev said tkat the height they- reached exceeded 10,000 metres, but the precise altitude will be known

when the Government Commission examines tho sealed barograph. When they landed,. Propokiev harangued' an enthusiastic crowd, describing’the flight as a victory for the Communist Party and the proletariat. After a flight of ten hours, in which they ascended 55,777 feet, nearly- twice the' height of Mount Everest, eclipsing their-own previous altitude ’ record byhalf a mile, Professor Piccard and his assistant, Max Cosyns, descended on the shore of Lake. Garda, Italy, on August 18, 1932.