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| Jump record fails to take flight | Jump record fails to take flight |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A French skydiver's attempt to break the world free fall record failed to get off the ground when his balloon lifted off without him on board. | A French skydiver's attempt to break the world free fall record failed to get off the ground when his balloon lifted off without him on board. |
| Michel Fournier, 64, hoped to break four world records by free falling 40,000m (25 miles) from a balloon in Saskatchewan, western Canada. | Michel Fournier, 64, hoped to break four world records by free falling 40,000m (25 miles) from a balloon in Saskatchewan, western Canada. |
| He hoped to bring back data vital for astronauts and those at high altitudes. | He hoped to bring back data vital for astronauts and those at high altitudes. |
| But his helium balloon detached from its capsule as it was being inflated, and drifted away into the sky. | But his helium balloon detached from its capsule as it was being inflated, and drifted away into the sky. |
| It is not the first time Michel Fournier has had to abandon his record attempt | |
| Mr Fournier was hoping to break the record for the fastest and longest free fall, the highest parachute jump and the highest balloon flight. | Mr Fournier was hoping to break the record for the fastest and longest free fall, the highest parachute jump and the highest balloon flight. |
| He was planning to jump from a point three-times higher than a commercial jetliner flies. | He was planning to jump from a point three-times higher than a commercial jetliner flies. |
| A former paratrooper, he originally planned to make the jump in France, but the government refused him permission, saying it was too dangerous. | A former paratrooper, he originally planned to make the jump in France, but the government refused him permission, saying it was too dangerous. |
| The fall was expected to last around 15 minutes, and Mr Fournier planned to deploy his parachute about 6,000m above ground. | The fall was expected to last around 15 minutes, and Mr Fournier planned to deploy his parachute about 6,000m above ground. |
| He has made two unsuccessful attempts before, in 2002 and 2003. | He has made two unsuccessful attempts before, in 2002 and 2003. |
| Mr Fournier was to wear a pressurised suit to protect him from the extreme low pressure and temperatures down to -100C. Sophisticated camera equipment was supposed to record key moments of the jump, particularly when he broke the sound barrier at 35,000m. | Mr Fournier was to wear a pressurised suit to protect him from the extreme low pressure and temperatures down to -100C. Sophisticated camera equipment was supposed to record key moments of the jump, particularly when he broke the sound barrier at 35,000m. |
| His parachute was set to open automatically if he lost consciousness during the jump - though there was no facility to eject from the balloon during the ascent. | His parachute was set to open automatically if he lost consciousness during the jump - though there was no facility to eject from the balloon during the ascent. |
| The current altitude record for a parachute jump is held by Colonel Joe Kittinger of the US Air Force. In 1960 he jumped from 31,333 metres (102,800 feet). | The current altitude record for a parachute jump is held by Colonel Joe Kittinger of the US Air Force. In 1960 he jumped from 31,333 metres (102,800 feet). |