Gas balloon

A gas balloon is an aircraft that floats in the atmosphere. It rises because it is filled with a gas that is lighter than the surrounding air. Common lifting gases include helium or hydrogen.

Because these gases provide more lift for a specific volume, gas balloons do not need to be as large as hot-air balloons. They can also stay aloft for much longer periods. When not in flight, these balloons are usually tethered to the ground to prevent them from drifting away. The bottom is also sealed tightly to stop the lifting gas from escaping.

Pilots manage the flight of a gas balloon through specific mechanical processes. To control altitude, pilots use ballast, which are heavy weights. If the balloon begins to descend too low, the pilot drops ballast to make the craft rise. To land the balloon, the pilot must vent some of the lifting gas through a valve.

Because these balloons lack engines, heat, or fuel for propulsion, the pilot must rely entirely on skill. They must navigate by following the natural movement of the wind.

Early history shows how quickly gas balloon technology developed. In August 1783, Professor Jacques Charles and the Robert brothers launched the first gas balloon. It carried no passengers or cargo during that initial test. On December 1, 1783, Charles and Nicolas-Louis Robert performed the first manned flight using a hydrogen-filled balloon. This occurred just ten days after the first manned hot-air balloon flight. Later, the team built La Caroline, an elongated craft designed to be steerable. This craft used a rudder and internal air cells called ballonnets to help with control.

On September 19, 1784, the crew flew for 6 hours and 40 minutes. They covered 186 km, traveling from Paris to Beuvry, which was the first flight to exceed 100 km.

Throughout the 19th century, gas balloons were a major source of public fascination. Hobbyists and performers, such as the Blanchards, used them for shows. They were also used for observation during the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War. In the American Civil War, Thaddeus Lowe was a notable pilot. By the mid-20th century, the United States Navy used spherical free gas balloons to train crews for airships. Today, gas balloons remain part of daily life through small latex party balloons and large blimps. Some companies, like Aerophile, operate tethered balloons at theme parks. They carry about 300,000 passengers every year at locations like Disneyland Paris and San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Humans have used gas balloons to reach extreme heights in the stratosphere. In 2012, Felix Baumgartner reached an altitude of 39.045 kilometers. Later, on October 24, 2014, Alan Eustace broke this record. He launched from an abandoned runway in Roswell, New Mexico. Using a helium balloon manufactured in Hyderabad, India, Eustace reached a maximum altitude of 135,889.108 feet. Unlike previous attempts, Eustace hung from the balloon in a pressure suit without a capsule. He used an explosive device to separate from the balloon to begin his descent.

Unmanned balloons have even reached higher into the atmosphere. In September 2013, a stratospheric balloon made by JAXA reached an altitude of 53.7 kilometers. This balloon had a volume of 80,000 m³. This remains the greatest height ever achieved by an atmospheric vehicle. Only rockets, rocket planes, and ballistic projectiles have flown higher than this unmanned balloon. These high-altitude flights help scientists study the upper layers of our atmosphere.

Gas balloons are also used for long-distance travel and space exploration. In 2015, pilots Leonid Tiukhtyaev and Troy Bradley flew the "Two Eagles" balloon from Japan to Mexico. They traveled 10,711 km in 160 hours and 33 minutes. This set the record for both the longest distance and the longest duration for a gas balloon. Beyond Earth, the Soviet Union used gas balloons to study other planets. In 1985, the Vega 1 and Vega 2 probes dropped helium balloons into the atmosphere of Venus. These balloons descended to 50 km and then inflated for level flight. They relayed data about wind and atmospheric conditions for 46 hours using electric batteries.