Of course, we'll have loads more snaps for you in due course, just as soon as the effects of the champagne have worn off. We also have some quite remarkable footage from the main payload video camera for your viewing pleasure - but since PARIS likes to tease, you'll have to wait to see just what defining project moment the vid contains.
In the meantime, here's a pic from the launch site, courtesy of top local chap José María Pita:
Here you can see, from left to right with their backs to the camera: Federico Buenadicha, and me and Steve Daniels fiddling with the main payload, while PARIS essential refuelling operatives Tito and Yolanda of Bar Tito, Navatejares, look on.
Tackling the balloon are John Oates on the helium bottle and Jose Manuel Gomez Paris (yes, that really is one of his surnames) firmly grasping the latex.
Jose Manuel deserves a special mention for his balloon-handling technique, which involved calmly smoking a cigar with his free hand while noting: "Well, it's not hydrogen, is it?"
José María has further images of the launch here. Enjoy. ®
Additional PARIS resources
- Our dedicated PARIS section, with all previous updates, is right here.
- New to PARIS? We have a basic mission summary here (pdf).
- Our Flickr page, for your viewing pleasure.
- Check out our lovely YouTube channel.
COMMENTS
When I get old...
I wonder how many of the trees in the landing zone saw Vulture One go past and thought, "That's what I want to be when I grow up!!"
hmm
I don't know about that one, but I am pretty sure that Paris has been involved many times with the sound of one hand clapping
Re: OK...time to start the conspiracy theory
Yes, we just loaded the plane in the van, went for a couple of beers and then planted it in the woods. En route, though, we came across a UFO crash site, killed all the locals who witnessed the prang, and then flew the remains of the intergalactic casualties to Area 51 on our black helicopter.
We did, of course, have to spend two days faking the PARIS launch photos, as well as those of the plane construction, because neither of those ever happened.
All we have to do now is rub the memories of the people who know the whole thing was a pathetic set-up aimed at getting page hits, and we're sorted.
I don't exist either, actually, and I simply invented an imaginary PARIS project to feed an imaginary internet feedback loop of deception.
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