Hey Sebass!
I was only responding to your query on the possibility of public viewing for the launch. (i.e., "it floats" was talking about on the way up.)
However, since you mention multi-ton objects falling out of the sky, "it floats" also applies on the way down. Rest easy, my friend. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA -- the same folks who license Learjets and 747s) will inspect the framework before the skin is installed. When FAA licenses the aircraft, safety will have been considered.
Layman's opinion:
1. If a strat begins to lose helium, they'll simply bring it down early. No sweat. Further, just looking at the thing says it's shaped like a glider. With that much wingspan, even dinky electric motors will give it a crossrange capability of landing several hundred miles in one direction or another. Not on your house or mine.
2. If you have a double failure (it's losing helium and the radio controls also stop working) the solar powered motors will keep it over the same location while it gradually heads down. Long before it reaches 40,000 feet and the nearest air traffic, it will be harpooned and brought down under control.
3. In a triple failure (losing helium, no radio control, and the motors also stop working), it gets to wander around while it descends from 65,000 to 40,000 feet.
In short, nothing for ground dwellers or newbie investors to worry about.
Caradoc
AI
