QinetiQ 1 pilots, Colin Prescot and Andy Elson, will attempt to break the world altitude record for a manned balloon in early September 2003. The QinetiQ 1 balloon, known as the envelope, will be the biggest manned balloon in history - seven times higher than Nelson's Column, and as tall as the Empire State Building. Mission altitude should be approx. 132,000 ft. (almost 40,000 meters).\n\nExpedition Site\n