Punctured pride

NASA has failed in its second attempt to send a giant test balloon to the
edge of space and around the world. The Ultra Long Duration Balloon is designed
to do the work of a research satellite for a fraction of the cost. The ULDB was
launched on Saturday morning from Alice Springs, Australia, but pressure in the
balloon didn’t increase in Sunday morning’s heat, suggesting it had sprung a
leak. The ULDB finally touched down 24 hours later in Western Australia, just a
few kilometres short of the ocean. “On filling there were a few problems with
handling,” says…