How long until someones near-space epic ends badly?

[moribund]

I love the idea of constructing something in the shed, hanging it from a weather balloon and getting pics showing the earths curvature - but now the idea is out there, there seems to be loads of people having a go.

So how long will it be until one of these constructions ends up coming through an airline windscreen or bopping someone on the head at ground level? I know that they'll be lightweight items but even a compact camera will leave a nasty bruise on your forehead if it's dropped on you from 30km up...and how would an light aircraft pilot react to a face full of Lego spaceshuttle? ( http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/03/06/lego_shutt... )

I give a year at most before we find out

[anonymous-user]

So epic. Much better than writing a message in a bottle or a note attached to a helium balloon at a school fair.

[dr_gn]

Becoming a popular pastime these days, there have been at least 3 of these projects posted on here in the past year.