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on the manned high altitude balloon record in 2003.
Dr. Andras Sobester - Andras is a member of the Computational Engineering and Design research group
within the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Southampton. Undertaking research in a
range of areas including Design optimization Aircraft design, High altitude flight.
Andras is involved with the ASTRA (Atmospheric Science Through Robotic Aircraft initiative), Exploring
Earth’s atmosphere using high altitude unmanned instrument platforms.
I’ve also spoken with the director at Cameron balloons, Alan Noble, who along with their partner
company Linstrand balloons, both have the manufacturing know-how to fabricate a balloon on this scale.
The project is still in the preliminary stage, so the prime focus at the moment will be on fundraising,
the estimated cost of project is between £1,500,000 to £2,000,000 pounds.
The exact funding is not finalized at the moment as it depends on the final
material costs and whether we fund any scientific equipment or whether this is
provided by partners, but I am currently looking into a range of options & am
determined to make this happen.
ICY SCIENCE | WINTER 2013- 2014