USSR-1
| USSR-1 | |
|---|---|
| USSR-1 over Moscow Kremlin on a 1933 postage stamp (Scott C37). Here the balloon is shown in low altitude configuration; in stratosphere the envelope expanded into a nearly perfect sphere. The balloon did not pass over the Kremlin directly, but it was clearly in sight for the first few hours of the flight. | |
| General information | |
| Type | Stratospheric research Helium balloon |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer | First Airship Division |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| Developed from | Osoaviakhim-1 |
USSR-1 (Russian: СССР-1) was a record-setting, hydrogen-filled Soviet Air Forces high-altitude balloon designed to seat a crew of three and perform scientific studies of the Earth's stratosphere. On September 30, 1933, USSR-1 under Georgy Prokofiev's command set an unofficial world altitude record of 18,501 m (60,699 ft).
After the crash of Osoaviakhim-1 in January 1934 USSR-1 was retrofitted with a gondola parachute and a new gas envelope. June 26, 1935 it flew again as USSR-1 Bis. The balloon reached 16,000 meters where an accidental release of hydrogen, probably caused by a faulty valve, forced it into an unexpected descent. After expending all available ballast, two crew members bailed out on personal parachutes at low altitudes; the flight commander stayed on board and managed to perform a soft landing.