High altitude balloon

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High altitude balloons are unmanned balloons, usually filled with helium, that are released into the upper atmosphere, generally reaching between 60,000 and 120,000 feet (18,000 - 36,500m).

The most common type of high altitude balloon are weather balloons, although there are many other purposes to which such balloons can be put. Many scientific groups and universities use them to conduct experiments in the upper atmosphere, and modern balloons generally contain electronic equipment such as radio transmitters, cameras, and sometimes a satellite navigation system, such as GPS.

These balloons are launched into what is termed "near space" - the area of Earth's atmosphere where there is very little air, but which is not high enough to be in the realm of satellites.

A seasonal vortex in Antarctica allows balloons to be recovered very close to their launch site, making it a popular location for balloon-based research.

Due to the low cost of GPS and communications equipment, high altitude ballooning is an emerging hobby.^[1]

[edit] See also

• Altitude sickness
• High-altitude airship
• Manned balloon altitude records
• Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility

[edit] External links

• HALO - High ALtitude Object
• Cambridge University Spaceflight
• Near Space Ventures - Kansas City, MO
• Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility
• Iowa State University - High Altitude Balloon Experiments in Technology
• US Centennial of Flight essay on balloons as forerunners to space travel
• E.N.S.U.R.E.1 Electronic Near-Space Utility for Recovery and Experimentation
• Pegasus High Altitude Balloon Project
• University of Tennessee Amateur Radio Club - Balloon Mission
• Arizona Near Space Research
• Cygnus High Altitude Balloon
• Stratocat - Historical recopilation project on the use of stratospheric balloons in the scientific research, the military field and the aerospace activity

[edit] References