Fly Me to the Moon

British pilots Colin Prescot and Andy Elson are attempting to fly higher than ever before - about 132,000 feet, to be approximate. They envision constructing the largest ever helium balloon and soaring up to where the air is thin, and in fact almost nonexistent. It could be an important precursor to greater exploration of Mars, since according to the BBC, "The environment that Andy and Colin will encounter will be similar in terms of atmosphere, temperature and pressure to the surface of Mars."

Thanks to Megan McLaughlin for sending me the story.