According to reports, the Project Blue Horizon 5 high-altitude transatlantic balloon flight has been aborted. The flight began Thursday, April 28 from Owego, New York, but the balloon envelope apparently ruptured above 100,000 feet late Friday morning. The payload descended for landing in an area approximately 10 miles northeast of Warsaw, New York.

The Project Blue Horizon team was attempting to break current Amateur Radio high-altitude balloon records for distance (3361.81 miles) and duration (49 hours, 45 minutes). The payload was carried beneath a 54,000 cubic foot capacity helium-filled balloon designed to cruise between 85,000 and 100,000 feet.

During the flight amateurs worldwide were encouraged to monitor the N2XE CW telemetry beacons on 40 and 30 meters.

More information about the program is at the Project Blue Horizon website.