[ExI] Balloon to space

[BillK]

<http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jan/HQ_09-003_Antarctic_Balloons.html>

This seven-million-cubic-foot super-pressure balloon is the largest
single-cell, super-pressure, fully-sealed balloon ever flown. When
development ends, NASA will have a 22 million-cubic-foot balloon that
can carry a one-ton instrument to an altitude of more than 110,000
feet, which is three to four times higher than passenger planes fly.

Ultra-long duration missions using the super pressure balloon cost
considerably less than a satellite and the scientific instruments
flown can be retrieved and launched again, making them ideal very-high
altitude research platforms.
----------------------

Spaceship 1 was only about 3 to 4 tons loaded weight and launched at
50,000 ft from White Knight 1.
So a higher launch from balloon with less fuel (less weight) seems
nearly within reach.


BillK