ATST snippet #5

Loren Pechtel wrote:I would think that the weight of your tether would become a serious issue before the lack of oxygen became an issue.

That would depend on the size of the balloon; or more precisely the lifting power of the balloon.

The material the tether is made of is probably a factor as well.

Weird Harold wrote:

Loren Pechtel wrote:I would think that the weight of your tether would become a serious issue before the lack of oxygen became an issue.

That would depend on the size of the balloon; or more precisely the lifting power of the balloon.

The material the tether is made of is probably a factor as well.

Steel thistle silk comes to mind.

Dilandu wrote:

Peter2 wrote:Even if Sandra Lywys or one of her assistants started on a "blue sky" investigation of what natural gas is made up of (and I do not remember any textev that anyone is even looking at natural gas), they might have to take special precautions to stop it escaping. And they would then have to present a reason why they did it.
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Frankly, the helium is pretty hard to obtain in large quantites on relatuve primitive industrial level. It is possible, yes, but it required pretty developed liquifying technology to separate from natural gas and then you need to get rid of hydrogen and neon.

No, for foreseable future, Charis is stuck with hydrogen.

Exactly so.
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EdThomas wrote:

runsforcelery wrote: Helium gas is used to inflate blimps, scientific balloons and party balloons. It is used as an inert shield for arc welding, to pressurize the fuel tanks of liquid fueled rockets and in supersonic windtunnels. Helium is combined with oxygen to create a nitrogen free atmosphere for deep sea divers so that they will not suffer from a condition known as nitrogen narcosis. Liquid helium is an important cryogenic material and is used to study superconductivity and to create superconductive magnets. The Department of Energy's Jefferson Lab uses large amounts of liquid helium to operate its superconductive electron accelerator.

It's also used to make those filling toy store balloons sound like Donald Duck!

I was hoping no one else would mention that so that I could

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It was mentioned in text that air conditioning/cryogenic technology was already in Charis' reach. It basically involves playing with air pressure, aka reducing air pressure in a container also reduces the temperature of the air in the container. With pneumatic power lines and power tools, Delthak has everything he needs to create a primitive cooling system.

The only reason Charis isn't pursuing the technology is because Father Paytyr doesn't want to fight that theological battle while there's still an actual war going on.[/quote]

Thanks evilauthor. I am going to have to start keeping notes, I barely recall that point.

W

Someone mentioned windborn bombing. It has been tried before by the Japanese in WWII. Didn't work very well. You have to launch relatively close to the target to have any chance of passing within strike range. Only if the supply depots covered massive amounts of territory would any possibility of hitting a target be possible.

However, given any motive force you get blimps, which can be used effectively as bombers as well as for dropping raiding forces into sensitive areas well in the enemies rear.