"cole, its looks as though you may not have taken statistics."
I see trunk. So if Sans2A flies for say 24 hours at 20,000 feet, the extrapolation would go something like this. Engineers would have measured the helium before it went up and then of course they could tell how much was lost during the 24 hours. Then its rather simple, 18 months ÷ 24 hours = 540 × amount of helium lost = will it work for 18 months.
Of course in that scenario it wasn't subjected to the stress of getting to 65,000 feet. The containment was never tested at the pressure it will have to perform at. It only went through the lesser temperature change of 1/3rd the altitude ONCE. Unlike the more drastic changes that will occur at 65,000 feet some 540 times.
But other than that, your statistical test sounds really cool. Much easier to perform, and I'm sure the testers can easily adjust for all the parameters I mentioned.
But trunkmonk, Mr. Bleckman said-
"Sanswire 2A is designed to go to 65,000 ft. It will have to do everything that is going to be required on Sanswire 3"
Are you doubting him "too"?
Why not see if it will do what Mr. Bleckman says it will. They don't have to keep it up for 18 months. But for a real test, I think they need to get it to 65,000 feet and keep it there at least 30 days. That way they will only have to extrapolate by a factor of 18 and not 540.
But you're right, I never took statistics. I'm sure your method is more accurate, as mine is only based on common sense.
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