Alicia Hempleman-Adams is aboard the Atlantic Explorer as the crew pushes past Nova Scotia and into the open Atlantic, moving from a launch phase into a full transoceanic attempt. The hempleman adams flight launched from Presque Isle, Maine, on June 4 after weather delays, and the team is now committed to the crossing.
Presque Isle Launch
The balloon lifted off at approximately 2 a.m. on June 4 after several hours of delays caused by strong winds. By Friday morning, it had traveled nearly 900 miles from Presque Isle, climbed to approximately 12,000 feet, and was moving eastward at speeds approaching 60 miles per hour.
Presque Isle carries its own place in ballooning history: it was also the starting point for the first successful transatlantic balloon crossing in 1978 by Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman. This time, Bert Padelt of Pennsylvania, Peter Cuneo of New Mexico and Hempleman-Adams of Great Britain are part of the crew pursuing a crossing that has been achieved only 19 times in more than 140 years of ballooning.
Hydrogen Lift Over The Atlantic
The mission is unusual because the crew is attempting a manned transoceanic balloon crossing using hydrogen gas as the sole source of lift. Kim Vesely said, "If they reach their goal, they will be the first to accomplish this feat with a balloon solely using hydrogen to generate lift."
Vesely also said, "Now that they are past Newfoundland, there is no respite until they reach Europe – their only place to land is in the open ocean." The flight control team is primarily based in Britain, with meteorologists, technical specialists and support personnel spread across the United States and Europe.
Days To Europe
The remaining journey was expected to take another three to four days, though total flight time could stretch to six days depending on weather and wind conditions. Depending on where the balloon lands, the crew will need to travel between 3,100 and 3,500 miles to complete the crossing.
If the flight succeeds, Alicia Hempleman-Adams will become the first woman to complete a transoceanic gas balloon crossing, with the team reaching a result that has remained rare despite ballooning history stretching back more than 140 years.
