High altitude balloons are balloons, usually filled with helium, that are released into the upper atmosphere, generally reaching between 60,000 and 120,000 feet.

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.

Manned balloon altitude records

• 34,668 m (113,740 feet) April 5, 1961 Commander Malcom D. Ross and Lieutenant Victor A. Prather, Jr. (US Navy) Strato-Lab program, USS Antietam, in the Gulf of Mexico. Lt. Prather died when his pressure suit filled with water on landing.

• 11,887 m (39,000 feet) September 1862, Coxwell and Glaisher, both lost consciousness during the ascent due to the low air pressure and cold temperature -11 °C (12 °F).

• 2,700 m (9,000 feet) December 1783 Jacques Alexandre Charles and Marie-Noel Robert (France) made the first flight in a hydrogen balloon to about 610 m (2,000 feet). Then Charles ascended alone to the record altitude.

• 24 m (80 feet) August 1783, Jean Francois Pilatre (France), the first ascent in a hot-air balloon.

See also

• Altitude sickness
• High-altitude airship

External links

• National Scientific Balloon Facility
• Iowa State University - High Altitude Balloon Experiments in Technology
• Balloon altitude records
• Balloon World Records Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
• US Centennial of Flight essay on balloons as forerunners to space travel]