Nov 1 1974
From The Space Library
Project da Vinci-oft-delayed manned-atmospheric-research balloon flight-was terminated after one third of its projected 36-hr duration, because of threatening weather. The joint project of the Atomic Energy Commission, National Geographic Society, and the Army's Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory was intended primarily to investigate atmospheric behavior at 1200-4300 m, where less scientific research had been done than at very high and very low altitudes. Floating free and staying with a single parcel of air as long as possible, the four crewmen studied atmospheric behavior over mountains, plains, forests, and cities. They had hoped to travel in their 21-m helium balloon from the launch site at Las Cruces, N. Mex., to a landing near Lubbock, Tex. The project safety officer terminated the flight over Wagon Mound, N. Mex., but not before enough data had been gathered to plan future flights. (ERDA PIO, interview, 4 Aug 75 ; AEC Release T-425; AP, NYT, 3 Nov 74, 87)
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