Hamster survives daring trip into the stratosphere on a flying balloon

“A hamster has successfully returned to Earth after being launched into the stratosphere on a flying balloon.

The spaceham reached a maximum altitude of 14 miles (23km) - and is in good health after being safely recovered from the sea off Japan's Miyako Island.

According to Iwatani Giken, the company behind the daring experiment, the hamster was placed in an airtight cabin 60cm high and 50cm in diameter, with the same atmospheric pressure and temperature as the ground.

Iwatani Giken is hoping to bring manned space travel to the masses, and the experiment was designed to give would-be consumers confidence.

Further test flights to an altitude of 15 miles (25km) are planned - and at this height, people would be able to see the curvature of the Earth.“

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