Hyderabadi who took Google to dizzy heights
TIRUPATI: The recent world record set by Google senior vice-president Robert Alan Eustace, a near-space dive from a high-altitude balloon, was a pride moment for the humanity. But it is a double whammy to the country as the nation scientists played an important role in discovering the record-breaking event.
The high-altitude stratospheric balloon sent into the stratosphere was made at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Balloon Facility (TIFRBF), Hyderabad.
The former scientists of Balloon Facility and Balloon Board members shared their happiness over the supersonic event and hoped for more discoveries in science that can help in surviving the mankind.
TIFRBF retired scientist in-charge Sreenivasan Shankarnarayan was in a key position when Paragon Space Development Corporation (PSDC) and its Stratospheric Explorer (StratEx) team, the company that supported the event, approached the Balloon Facility.
After having several trials and meetings with other foreign companies, the PSDC and StratEx team consulted TIFRBF with high expectations, he said.
'Before coming to us, one of the famous and reputed US companies was approached. But the team was not satisfied. It was a great opportunity to us,' he said.
Shankarnarayan said a new technique was used to make the balloon. The size was reduced to half of the one that fetched Felix Baumgartner the world record in 2012.
'A team of five members was trained in using the balloon. They worked hard day and night. My role is very minimal. Training the team along with scientists of PSDC and StratEx was memorable,' he said.
National Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Gadanki, director A Jayaraman, member-secretary of the Balloon Board, recalls his earlier days. He was a research student using high-altitude balloons from Hyderabad for stratospheric aerosol studies. In the early 1980s, the balloons used to burst around 17 km altitude, the coldest region of about minus 80 degrees C of the atmosphere, he said.
Constant research by the balloon team on the balloon material and fabrication improved the quality to almost zero per cent failure. 'Now it is a proud moment for all of us, in particular the TIFRBF,' he said.
Shankarnarayan and Jayaraman said zeal, hard work and talent, aided by external support, would help scientists explore and achieve more.
News Posted: 30 October, 2014
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