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Show STRATOSPHERE BALLOONREADY RAPID CITY, S. D., June 20 (UP) The balloon in which two army airmen hope to reach a new scientific frontier in the stratosphere stratos-phere 15 miles above sea level was to be taken today to a natural bowl in the hills to await the take-off. The flight will not start before July 1, Maj. William E. Kepner, pilot, indicated. Captain A. VV. Stevens, scientific observer, is in the hills placing equipment in readiness. Hundreds of tourists who visited here yesterday were astounded by the imposing dimensions of the bag. When fully inflated, it would envelope an eleven story office building. It weighs 5,055 pounds, not including gondola, contains 3,500 pieces of cloth cemented together to-gether and more than seven miles of fabric. It is three and one-half times the size of the largest balloon ever designed. The airmen will take off from the center of the natural bowl as soon after July 1 as weather conditions con-ditions permit. |