British Space Exploration project to rival India's and China's

[DimPrawn]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...r-balloon.html

These incredible pictures show four teddies boldly going where no bear has gone before - after being launched to the edge of space on a giant helium balloon.

Cuddly astronauts M.A.T and K.M.S and two bear colleagues were decked out in custom-made space suits and blasted 19 miles above Earth on a two-hour expedition.

[ace00]

We invented space.

[Cliphead]

I wonder what they're worth on eBay as 'flown items'?

Another Plan B?

[Pondlife]

We invented space.

I think you'll find that the Americans invented space. We had a good idea about something called stuff but it was a bit rubbishy when we actually manufactured it. There was a slight improvement in the 80s when the Japanese version came out as it was a bit smaller and had a clock on it.

[gingerjedi]

Why don't they attach rockets to balloons and just give a squirt of boost to get that extra bit further?

[DimPrawn]

I like the idea of floating rockets up to near orbital altitudes using balloons and then launching these much smaller cheaper rockets.

Shame that the British can dream up these ideas, but it'll be India and China that will actually do it and make money.

[TimberWolf]

Why don't they attach rockets to balloons and just give a squirt of boost to get that extra bit further?

Because 19 miles up if flip all, and to stay up you need to be doing around 9 kilometres / second.

[gingerjedi]

According to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (a European body that regulates competitive aeronautics), space starts 62 miles (100 km) above the planet's surface.

Say the frogs...

I'm British and I'm saying it's now 19 miles... we put teddy bears there to prove it.

[DimPrawn]

Because 19 miles up if flip all, and to stay up you need to be doing around 9 kilometres / second.

Space starts 62 miles up.

So it's only 43 to go. I could cycle that!

[gingerjedi]

Space starts 62 miles up.

So it's only 43 to go. I could cycle that!

Threaded?