In 1897, a very ambitious Swedish engineer and amateur balloonist named S.A. Andree convinced himself and at least a few dozen others that he might be able to become the first to reach the North Pole for the glory of Sweden-- by using an untethered gas balloon, natural wind currents, and a whole lot of gumption. 

What became of this ill-fated expedition was something of an urban legend/mystery for the next 33 years, until, in 1930, a Norwegian sealing vessel stumbled upon what remained of the balloon and its crew on a barren, remote rock island above the Arctic Circle. 

What happened? Why did they do this? Why would anyone even want to go to the North Pole in the first place? How do balloons work?

Join us as we make sense of all these questions and much, much more as we discuss the what, when, why, and how in this bold, cocky, bleak, and very cold episode of the Local Universe Podcast. 

 Just because something has never been done before, doesn't necessarily mean you should be the first.

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