Failure To Launch

The story goes that in the 2nd centry BC someone made an experimental hot-air ballon out of an empty eggshell. He emptied the egg white and yolk from a hole in the shell, and put a piece of burning wormwood inside the shell. As the air inside the shell was warmed, the eggshell was lifted by the wind and rose in the air. The principle of the story was quite correct and imaginative, and some people at that time seemed to have noticed the phenomenon of the buoyancy of hot air, which is lighter than air. However, the experiment could not have been a success, for even all the apace in the small was not air, the buoyancy was not enough to buoy the eggshell. According to historical records, the inventor of ho-air balloon was Zhuge liang(181-234), a noted politician and strategist of the Three Kingdoms Period.

When commanding troops at the front, Zhuge Liang's health broke down from constant overwork. Before his death, he designed a light to puzzle the enemy: An oil lamp was installed under a large paper bag, and the bag floated in the air due to the lamp heating the air. After his death, the enemy was frightened by the light in the air, thinking some divine force was helping him. Later people named the paper-made hot-air balloon Kongming’s Light (Zhuge Liang was also known as Zhuge Kongming). In the Five Dynasties Periodm, a woman warrior rosin under it to use it as a military signal. Fan Chengda, a poet of the Southern Song Dynasty, writes about Kongming’s Linght in a poem: “The candle shoots into the air and stays there.” In the Yuan Dynasty, the hot-air balloon became popular throughout the country, and during festivals such balloons were launched, which attracted huge crowds of viewers. Joseph Needham noted that the invention of paper in China was several centuries earlier than its use in other countries; with paper people made lanterns, and some lanterns with very small hole in the upper part would rise and even float in the air due to the strong light and heat.
(http://www.cultural-china.com/chinaWH/html/en/10Kaleidoscope628.html)

Our story begins with meeting the Gap Guys on my way to visit with one of my students who seemed to have a problem. The two Gappers were on their way to meet a couple of students to fly Kong Ming Lanterns. Both Sunee and I were interested in seeing these lanterns fly, so we set out with the Gap Guys.

We met the two students near the Bank of China and I picked up my student (Mr. Yao) who was waiting for me at the library. Together the five us headed to the open field at the main gate of the university. Sophia, another student, joined us as we climbed the inclined road to the target area.

Here Ms. Sophia joins us and becomes part of the launch crew.

Sunee, Mr. Yao and I fell behind and visited with Mr. Yao about his problem. Seems he was not too happy about his performance in the CCTV Speech Contest. We told him that he was OK just nervous. By the time we convinced him of his English ability, the launch crew had already set up launch support and was working on launch procedures for their Kong Ming Lanterns.

The Launch Captain gives directions on where things should be placed for the evenings launch.

The Launch Controller explains the reason for the evening's launch and provides everyone with paper to write their own personal wish to be launched with the lanterns.


The Launch Controller helps Sunee with her wish to insure a successful launch and thus a "wish come true."

Dave works hard to come up with an appropriate wish. Too big a wish and the lantern will not be able to carry it. Too small and the lantern will be quickly blown away. The wish must meet the Launch Controller's specifications to be successful.

Here both Jon and Dave work closely with the Launch Controller in building an appropriate wish. Strict specifications were required for the launch to be successful.

The Launch Crew prepare the lantern and strategically place the wishes in their proper places. Misplaced wish lists have caused many a Kong Ming Lantern to fail to be launched.


The Launch Controller positions the Kong Ming Lantern to launch. All systems are go as we watch with fingers crossed for a successful operation.

Things do not go well as the lantern does nothing but vibrate and remain stationary. Are the wishes too heavy? Is the flame too high? Is it too low? Did the Launch Controller miscalculate the windage and leverage of the flame? Who knows! The thing does not work.

Dave makes a quick adjustment to the wishes and the flame's position but nothing seems to help. The lantern remains sickenly still and stationary.



For a minute the lantern moves away from the Launch Controller. Is it going to go? Will it move skyward? Nope. It falls to the ground and the flame and wishes with it.

The Launch Controller immediately convenes a meeting of the important members of the Launch Crew to find out what went wrong.

The possible problems were: the block of wax was too big; the wishes were too broad; the wishes were too heavy. Calculations were made but without success.

Failure to launch. Why? Nobody knows. Another launch will be scheduled in the near future. Will the Launch Controller keep her job? Will the Launch Crew return intact? Will the Launch Captain once more give directions? Only time will tell.