Dec 15 1975
From The Space Library
Giant designs stretching for miles on the Nazca plains of Peru had possibly been laid out by observers in hot-air balloons, Time magazine reported, as members of the International Explorers Society constructed and flew such a balloon over the area using materials and techniques available to the ancient Indians. Documents discovered in Portugal had revealed that in 1709 a missionary had demonstrated a model of a hot-air balloon reportedly used by the Indians. Textiles recovered from desert graves provided evidence that the Nazcas had the materials to make a balloon envelope, and a picture of an ancient ceramic appeared to represent a hot-air bag. The IES members built a balloon about 27 m high with fabric resembling the Nazca material, with lines and fastenings from local fibers and a gondola woven from reeds growing in Peru's Lake Titicaca. Named Condor I, the device flew about 4 km in 18 min and reached an altitude of more than 300 m. (Time, 15 Dec 75, 50)
Kennedy Space Center had awarded a $265 700 contract to Charter Industries of Raleigh, N.C., for rental of 14 geodesic domes to house displays at a bicentennial exposition of science and technology to' be sponsored by the government next summer at the spaceport. KSC would be host for the exposition, which would consist of exhibits from government and industry showing applications of science and technology to improve living conditions during the next 200 years. (NASA Release 75-313)
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