Space balloon crashes into car in Alice

Space balloon crashes into car in Alice

www.abc.net.au

A multi-million dollar scientific space balloon has crashed on take-off in Alice Springs, destroying its payload, tipping over a car and sending observers running for their lives.

WATCH EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF THE CRASH.

The balloon was scheduled to be launched about 8am, but despite the calm conditions something went wrong at the Alice Springs airport.

(visit the link for the full news article)

This is a big balloon, that nearly took fatality's with it
That balloon was as large as the Melbourne Cricket Ground when fully inflated.

An Alice Springs couple, Stan and Betty Davies, were watching the space balloon launch.

They thought they were going to die as the payload smashed into the dirt right beside them.

"We were sitting in our car and preparing to move it out of the way and we were actually about a foot [away] of being wiped out," Mrs Davies said.
"We were expecting to be wiped out."

"But he[Professor Ravi Sood] says the scientists involved in the NASA-sponsored project are crushed."

whoops

Courtesy- ABC TV(AUS)



Zelong.

www.abc.net.au
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 29/4/10 by Zelong]

The yellow coats look a bit stunned

reply to post by Zelong


well that's unfortunate.

The balloon falling from the sky, billowing, must have been an amazing sight in person.

reply to post by 12voltz

These guys seriously f up.Now whos going to take the blame and tell the owner they just trashed his multimillion$ space toy?

Edited in light of poor taste on my part.



[edit on 28-4-2010 by skepticantiseptic]

Was someone driving the crane \? It looks like the crane was turning counter clock wise and pulled so hard the mooring bolts, that they snapped.

They all look so devastated .... glad to see no one was physically hurt - other experiments like this have been really sucessful from the NT.
So, another try in May.
I think they're insurance premiuims might go up a bit for the next one.

Smigs

Originally posted by Violater1
Was someone driving the crane \? It looks like the crane was turning counter clock wise and pulled so hard the mooring bolts, that they snapped.

Of course some one was in the crane it looks like the breeze got her before she was fully inflated and the crane's tether was not long enough so the balloon was pulled off in the Breeze , sorta speak.


Zelong.

[edit on 29/4/10 by Zelong]