Salt Lake Telegram | 1934-07-28 | Page 1 | Flight Backed by U. S. Army

RIGHT FLIGHT BACKED BY U. U 8 ARMY t e Study of Cosmic Rays Other Scientific Data of Ether Sought I By hr United Press Salient facts regarding the flight of the stratosphere balloon Explorer which took of off from rom Moonlight valley in n the Black Hills 11 miles from Rapid City toda today The crew Major crew Major William E E. E Kepner Kep ner ncr pilot Captain Albert St Stevens scientific observer and Captain Orvil Or Orvii vil vii Anderson who will assist both men Sponsors of ot the flight The light The United States States army and the National Geo graphic society I Altitude objective objective Fifteen Fifteen en miles more than two miles h higher gher than man manlas has las ever before ascended I Scientific purpose purpose To To study cosmic cosmic cos coso mic rays and make other observations that may be of ot vast importance to scientific knowledge Estimated time of flight Twelve flight Twelve hours four to reach the ceiling o of 12 miles four for observations at the maximum altitude and four hours for descent Probable distance distance Balloon Balloon is expected ex cx- to drift miles or more moie to the he east or southeast SIze Si of balloon balloon It It is three times larger arger than any free balloon ever before be be- fore ore built It has a capacity of 00 cubic feet Inflated it stands feet high equal to the hei height ht of a story 27 building It is built buill of pieces of fabric totaling three tlc acres in n area Weight ht The balloon gondola scientific equipment crew and ballast have lave a t total weight of about eight tons Gondola Gondola It It is built of very light Dow metal is eight feet four inches in lit diameter and without its fittings weighs but pounds It is scaled sealed after the crew enters and the balloonists bal bal- are kept alive by use of liquid air nir and oxygen