S. A. Andrée's Arctic balloon expedition launches (1897)

S. A. Andrée's Arctic balloon expedition launched from Danskøya, Svalbard, on 11 July 1897. The team consisted of Andrée, Nils Strindberg, and Knut Frænkel. The balloon flew for 65 hours before crashing on the pack ice. The fate of the crew remained unknown until the 1930 discovery of their remains, correcting earlier assumptions of immediate death.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Andrée proposed a polar exploration balloon in 1895. An initial attempt in 1896 failed due to winds at Danes Island. The balloon leaked too much gas, prompting concerns about buoyancy. Enthusiasm declined after the first failure, but the expedition returned in 1897. The hangar had weathered winter storms well, allowing for a new attempt.

Launch. On 11 July 1897, Andrée, Frænkel, and Strindberg launched the balloon Örnen from Danes Island. The balloon successfully lifted off and flew for 65 hours. However, it lost hydrogen quickly and crashed on the pack ice after only two days. The expedition's fate remained unknown until the 1930 discovery of the last camp.

Fate. The fate of the expedition was subject to myth and rumors until 1930. The discovery of the last camp on Kvitøya created a media sensation in Sweden. The bodies were cremated in 1930 without further examination. Strindberg's preserved underpants showed rips likely from polar bears, suggesting he was killed by them.

People involved

Sources

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