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Author
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Topic: Fournier's Le Grand Saut (The Great Leap)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-24-2008 10:06 PM
   
The New York Times: 20-Year Journey for 15-Minute Fall 
He has spent two decades and nearly $20 million in a quest to fly to the upper reaches of the atmosphere with a helium balloon, just so he can jump back to earth again. Now, Michel Fournier says, he is ready at last.Depending on the weather, Fournier, a 64-year-old retired French army officer, will attempt what he is calling Le Grand Saut (The Great Leap) on Sunday from the plains of northern Saskatchewan. He intends to climb into the pressurized gondola of the 650-foot balloon, which resembles a giant jellyfish, and make a two-hour journey to 130,000 feet. At that altitude, almost 25 miles up, Fournier will see both the blackness of space and the curvature of the earth. Then he plans to step out of the capsule, wearing only a special space suit and a parachute, and plunge in a mere 15 minutes, experiencing weightlessness along the way. If successful, Fournier will fall longer, farther and faster than anyone in history. Along the way, he can accomplish other firsts, by breaking the sound barrier and records that have stood for nearly 50 years. Fournier has been in touch with the man who's record he may break. Fournier and Kittinger correspond through e-mail. "I told him many years ago, it's very hostile," Kittinger said. "You're in a vacuum, and your whole life is dependent on the pressure suit working properly. If the pressure suit fails, you die." |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 05-25-2008 12:26 AM
A more appropriate translation: "The Big Jump", as in French jump and parachuting go hand in hand. Chris. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 05-26-2008 09:12 AM
Apparently, everything is go. Fourniret has started breathing pure oxygen. "Liftoff" planned for 14:30 GMT.Chris. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-26-2008 11:12 AM
Associated Press: French skydiver postpones free fall record attempt A French skydiver delayed plans Monday to free fall 130,000 feet from the stratosphere in a specially designed suit, helmet and parachute in a bid to break four records.A spokesperson said the delay was due to unfavorable wind conditions and that another attempt was to be made Tuesday. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 05-27-2008 09:17 AM
This will sound funny but the balloon took off... without the pressurized gondola carrying Fournier!The balloon was recovered but since it was designed to be used once... Chris. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-27-2008 09:26 AM
Associated Press: Skydiver's balloon takes off without him The helium balloon Michel Fournier was going to use to soar to the stratosphere detached from the capsule he was going to use to jump from 130,000 feet (40,000 meters).It happened after the balloon was inflated on the ground at the airport in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. The balloon drifted away into the sky without the capsule. Fournier appeared disappointed as left the capsule and walked to the hanger. He was hugged by members of his entourage. The balloon was reported to have cost at least US$200,000 and Fournier was said to have already exhausted his finances. His handlers planned a media briefing. |
LCDR Scott Schneeweis
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 05-27-2008 10:36 AM
Should it be now called Fournier's Le Grande Folie? |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 05-27-2008 11:55 PM
He's no more "nuts" than anybody willingly ready to sit on top of 2,000 tons of explosives, if you ask me!  Chris. |
eurospace
Member Posts: 2610
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-30-2008 11:27 AM
quote:
Originally posted by cspg:
Apparently, everything is go. Fourniret has started breathing pure oxygen. "Liftoff" planned for 14:30 GMT.
Some confusion with the name here, even though both gentlemen are French and have the first name of Michel: - Michel Fourniret is the guy who, together with his wife, abducted, abused and killed several teenage girls and was just sentenced to life by a Belgian court.
- The guy with the balloon is called Michel Fournier.
I'm sure the latter appreciated he'd not be confused with the other guy... ------------------
J�rgen P Esders
Berlin, Germany International Director (Europe), Space Unit
Vice President, Weltraum Philatelie e. V.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Astroaddies |
dtemple
Member Posts: 729
From: Longview, Texas, USA
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 05-30-2008 04:41 PM
The speculation I am about to present may be completely wrong, but here's my two cents worth. Fournier may be extremely LUCKY the balloon detached from the gondola. To me such a failure seems the result of unbelievable incompetence - akin to launching the shuttle but forgetting to put the astronauts on board! If this failure was due to human error then how many other flaws were hidden within the overall system? Theory 2... Perhaps someone on the launch team sabotaged the balloon/gondola believing Fournier had little or no chance of surviving the attempt and felt like they were simply saving his life. Attaching the gondola and the balloon seems to basic an operation to fail but perhaps my unfamiliarity with the system has led me to implausible theories. Those are just my thoughts on the event. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 05-30-2008 11:59 PM
quote:
Originally posted by eurospace:
Some confusion with the name here, even though both gentlemen are French and have the first name of Michel
Holy crap!  How on Earth did I manage to miss that one... I copied the news from Fournier's web site but did I get confused since that the other "guy" (if we can call him that) made the news for the past 8 weeks (and convicted for life by a French court)? Oh man, oh man... (and multiply this by whatever factor you feel is appropriate...). Thanks J�rgen. Chris. |
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