"In three weeks, we corrected the original design and built almost 100 additional feet of the space frame. We also moved from a Dacron covering to a space age Tedlar covering, developed a ground station communications package, and made advances in composite materials and in method of lifting gases." Mr. Jones continued.
ex-NASA or not, this organization has NO CLUE as to what the Stratosphere is like. To base an airship design on DACRON ( a polyester used in Hot Air Balloons), to discover 3 weeks ago that Ultraviolet light degrades it quickly.
"made advances in composite materials"
Someone with a modicum of higher education told them "Composite materials are lighter than aluminum." DUHH!!!! Composite materials have only been around and in common use for like 2 DECADES!!??
The Reality of the stratosphere and its challenges are going to hit GTEL and its Stockholders like a brick wall. These yahoos are so clueless, they don't even know what it is they need to learn. But they will learn through their mistakes. (Who said failure is not an option?)
Such is the opinion of someone who has launched a few payloads into the stratosphere on Scientific Balloons. It's a bitch of an environment, and you can not simply take something that flies at low altitude and expect it to fly just as well in the Stratosphere. Just try taking a Cessna or C-130 into the stratosphere. Just put bigger wings on them. Ha!
Don't believe the hype about all of GTEL's NASA folks they have managed to hire for window dressing. They don't have anyone from NASA - Wallops Island's Sub-Orbital program (Read Stratospheric Balloons and Sounding Rockets) even consulting/advising them.
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