National Geographic Channel Releases Exclusive Footage of Spectacular Real-Life 'Up' Balloon Launch From Earlier Today / FOOTAGE documents world record of the largest balloon cluster ever flown -- A HOUSE RAISED WITH 300 HELIUM-FILLED BALLOONS

WHAT:

National Geographic Channel (NGC) has released exclusive footage of a real-life version of the animated hit film "UP."

On Saturday morning, March 5, at dawn, a team of scientists, engineers and two world-class balloon pilots successfully launched a 16' X 16' house 18' tall with 300 8' colored weather balloons from a private airfield east of Los Angeles, and set a new world record for the largest balloon cluster flight ever attempted. The entire experimental aircraft was more than 10 stories high and reached an altitude of over 10,000 feet and flew for approximately one hour.

The footage will be part of a new NGC series called HOW HARD CAN IT BE? which will premiere in fall 2011.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110305/DC59948-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110305/DC59948-b )

FTP COORDINATES:

Link: ftp://38.103.25.49/NGC-Communications/How%20Hard%20Can%20it%20Be_Balloon%20House

User Name: commuser2218

Password: Com328Do

(Works best to cut and paste link into browser. Windows Explorer is recommended. Once you access the FTP, download the broadcast-quality clip to your desktop before viewing.)

FOOTAGE LOG:

0:00:05 - 0:00:51 Prep time

0:00:51 - 0:02:02 SOT - Paul Carson, National Geographic Channel's How Hard Can it Be?

0:02:02 - 0:02:26 Launch!

0:02:26 - 0:02:52UP in the air!

RESTRICTIONS WILL BE:

Maximum 2-minute use of footage

Courtesy lower third: "Courtesy: National Geographic Channel"

Verbal mention: Footage courtesy National Geographic Channel's upcoming series

HOW HARD CAN IT BE?

NOTE: All footage must be used with the NGC bug that is placed in the upper right corner.

Footage is copyright National Geographic Channel and may only be used to report this news story.

CONTACTS:

Chris Albert, 310-880-1250, [e-mail]

Cindy Ronzoni, 310-880-1961, [e-mail]

Cathy Saypol, 917-453-2424, [e-mail]

/PRNewswire -- March. 5, 2011/

Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110305/DC59948-a
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110305/DC59948-b
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2,3
PRN Photo Desk, [e-mail]

National Geographic Channel

Web site: http://www.natgeotv.com/