Professor Piccard leaves on balloon trip into the unknown . Professor Piccard , the Belgian scientist , took off from the Dubendorf Aerodrome , near Zurich , in his balloon , on his second voyage of discovery into the stratosphere , regions of the sky never before attained by man . It is expected that he will beat his previous height record of ten miles . Professor Piccard saying goodbye to friends and reporters just as the balloon started its ascent at dawn . 18 August 1932