A group of volunteers have an idea for joining the private space race – airships. The DIY crew sent an unmanned powered airship soaring 95,085 feet above Nevada last month, an altitude they claim is the record for a (remotely) piloted airship. Some free-floating research balloons have gone higher. The group operates JP Aerospace and the tandem balloon vehicle is part of their “Airship to Orbit” project. They hope to use high-altitude airships as a launch platform for rockets or hypersonic aircraft sent into space. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ELwvh9vLJfw[/youtube] Read more via the source link. Source: http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/11/video-diy-airship-sets-altitude-record/
