In 1934, a Soviet balloon reached 22,000 meters but crashed, killing its crew. Their achievement was unacknowledged by the Fédération aéronautique internationale.
Soviet balloon sets record in 1934
On January 30, 1934, the Soviet stratospheric balloon Osoaviakhim-1 reached an altitude of 22,000 meters, surpassing the international record of the time. The flight was part of a series of high-altitude experiments conducted by the Soviet Union during the early 20th century.Crew lost in uncontrollable descent
The crew, including Pavel Fedosseïenko, Andreï Vassenko, and Ilia Oussychkine, lost control of the craft during an uncontrollable descent that killed all three men on board. The balloon’s descent was so rapid that the crew likely could not deploy their parachutes in time.Record not officially recognized
The record was never officially recognized by the Fédération aéronautique internationale because the USSR was not a member at the time. However, the three aeronauts were posthumously awarded the Order of Lenin, one of the highest honors in the Soviet Union.Balloon’s technical details
The Osoaviakhim-1 was a hydrogen-filled stratospheric balloon with an envelope of about 25,000 cubic meters when fully deployed, with an impressive diameter of nearly 55 meters. It took off from the Kountsevo airfield near Moscow and ascended quickly, establishing radio contact with the ground.Flight proceeds as planned initially
The first hours of the flight proceeded exactly as planned by the engineers. Around 9:56, the onboard altimeter already indicated 15,000 meters. The envelope expanded as it ascended, taking on a nearly spherical shape around 17,700 meters.Crew pushes beyond design limits
Fedosseïenko decided to push the craft further, jettisoning 310 kilograms of ballast, which significantly lightened the balloon and allowed it to continue its journey. At 10:50, the Osoaviakhim-1 surpassed its design altitude of 20,500 meters, crossing a limit the craft was not supposed to exceed.Descent becomes uncontrollable
Remaining too long at such an altitude, the gas in the envelope cooled, reducing lift. The balloon began a rapid descent, spinning violently as it fell. The crew likely could not deploy their parachutes due to intense g-forces, and the craft disintegrated near the village of Potij-Ostrov in Mordovia.Flight ends in tragedy
A detail that particularly chills the blood: Andreï Vassenko's pocket watch had stopped at 16:23, a frozen snapshot of the moment of impact. The flight, which lasted more than seven hours, ended in tragedy with the loss of all three crew members.Legacy of the aeronauts
Official investigation reports attributed the disaster to the prolonged stay at altitudes far exceeding the design limits of the craft. Despite the tragedy, Fedosseïenko, Vassenko, and Oussychkine were awarded the Order of Lenin, and their ashes rest today in the Kremlin Wall on Red Square.
