Gwiazda Polski
Gwiazda Polski (The Star of Poland) was a
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Polana_Chocho%C5%82owska_a11.jpg/220px-Polana_Chocho%C5%82owska_a11.jpg)
The idea
In mid-1930s, ballooning was a very popular sport in Poland, pilots from the
The first idea of making a Polish flight into the stratosphere was conceived in 1937 by the
The idea quickly gained popularity in the whole country. It was sponsored by the national
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Schronisko_PTTK_na_Polanie_Chocho%C5%82owskiej_%282%29.jpg/220px-Schronisko_PTTK_na_Polanie_Chocho%C5%82owskiej_%282%29.jpg)
Preparation
Some time in late 1937 or early 1938, a Scientific Council of Flight was created, which consisted of professors Wolfke, Szczepan Szczeniowski, Marian Miesowicz and Mieczyslaw Jezewski. They agreed that the pilots would examine distribution of the rays at various altitudes [4]
Advanced equipment had been prepared, its main parts were a telescope consisting of 30 Geiger-Muller meters, and an Ionization chamber. The takeoff was scheduled for September 1938 in the Chocholowska Valley of the western Tatra Mountains. American experts, including Stevens himself (who came to Zakopane), provided technical assistance.[5] Also, Auguste Piccard, who remained in Switzerland, anxiously anticipated news from Poland.
The balloon
The balloon, named Gwiazda Polski (The Star of Poland) was made by the Aviotex factory in Legionowo and was the world's largest [5]
![registered letter to New York](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Poland_registered_letter_front_large.jpg/220px-Poland_registered_letter_front_large.jpg)
Its bag was made in Legionowo of Japanese silk covered with rubber, and the 500-kilogram gondola was constructed by engineer
The crew
The crew consisted of two persons - Captain Zbigniew Burzyński (1902-1971), one of the best Polish balloon pilots of the 1930s, who had twice won the Gordon Bennett Cup, and a physicist, doctor Konstanty Jodko-Narkiewicz (1901-1963), expert in the cosmic rays, leader of the first Polish expedition to the Andes.
The flight
Due to adverse weather conditions, the takeoff, planned for September 15, was postponed several times [4] Finally, the Council decided that October 14 would be the final attempt, as winter in the Tatra mountains comes earlier than in the plains.
On the scheduled day, a large group of spectators showed up in the Chocholowska Valley, brought by special buses and taxis. There were also numerous journalists, including those from the
At around 4:00 a.m. the gigantic balloon was filled with hydrogen. Without warning and from some undetermined cause, the stiff fabric went up in flames. According to witnesses, a spark appeared on the top of the bag and quickly enveloped the balloon. It burned very fast. Fortunately, the gondola was spared and no one was injured.,[4] which gave Polish scientists hope for a next attempt.
Aftermath
As the gondola was saved, Polish experts decided to recreate the bag and organize another takeoff. In August 1939 the Americans provided the Poles with helium
See also
LOPP - Airship project made alongside Gwiazda Polski
References
- ^ "Record Balloon Flights". Archived from the original on 2006-03-09. Retrieved 2006-01-25.
- ^ "お問い合わせ". Archived from the original on 2019-02-09. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
- ^ "Tents, balloons, pagodas - Aviotex KKC Sp. Z o.o. - tents, advertising balloons" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2008-03-12. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
- ^ a b c d e "Tatry" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
- ^ a b c "Aeronautics and Astronautics Chronology, 1935-39".
- ^ a b (in Polish)[1] Archived 2007-12-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c "Polacy w kosmosie - Polska | Virango" (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2008-06-15. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
Further reading
- Jacek Szczepanski; Wojska balonowe. Legionowo 1897-1939. Pruszków 2004
- Zbigniew Burzynski; Balonem przez kontynenty. Warszawa 1956
- Andrzej Morgala, Gwiazda Polski Lot do stratosfery 1938 rok, Bellona 2006. ISBN 83-11-10336-4
- Jan Krupski, Ewa Jelen, Stacja koncowa Zakopane, Warszawa 1999.