Sir David Hempleman-Adams: Epic Exploits from Poles, Peaks, to Oceans and Skies.
In the world of exploration and aviation, Sir David Hempleman-Adams is a pioneer and modern-day adventurer who has etched his name in the annals of history. Born on October 10, 1956, this British adventurer has set the bar high, shattering records and pushing boundaries in the realms of lighter-than-air flight, mountaineering, polar exploration, and sailing. […]
First Spaceman Joe Kittinger Leaves a Great Legacy
Retired US Air Force Colonel Joe Kittinger’s contributions to aerospace and humanity will always remain legendary. The dauntless test pilot, space pioneer, brave balloonist, war veteran, high skydiver, parachutist, and a true American hero passed away on 9th December 2022 after a battle with lung cancer. He was 94. Kittinger was a great believer in […]
Frequent Flights of Science
From the study of the atmosphere to the origins of the universe, the unmanned scientific balloon has been the vehicle for some important scientific discoveries and holds more promise for significant investigations in the future. Described as the quiet workhorse of space science—the scientific balloon is the quickest and cost-efficient way to carry heavy payloads […]
Scientist and Aviator Julian Nott Dies After a Bizarre Accident
It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we report the death of renowned aeronaut Julian Nott on March 26, 2019. Nott passed away peacefully in a hospital, on Tuesday, after suffering serious injuries in what seems to be a bizarre capsule accident after a successful balloon flight and landing. His loving partner of […]
NASA’s Future Mission to Venus — Humans in Floating Airships?
Popular science fiction of the early 20th century depicted Venus as some kind of wonderland of pleasantly warm temperatures, forests, swamps and even dinosaurs. In 1950, the Hayden Planetarium at the American Natural History Museum were soliciting reservations for the first space tourism mission, well before the modern era of Blue Origins, SpaceX , and Virgin Galactic. All you […]
Joe Kittinger: First Man to Jump from Space
It was one of the most dangerous aerospace experiments, by the United States Air Force. On 16th August 1960, Captain Joseph Kittinger got ready to rise to an altitude of more than 100,000 feet above the Earth —about three times the flying altitude of commercial planes. Kittinger, a test and fighter pilot, was going to […]
Museum Highlights Advances in Science and Technology by Balloonists
With an emphasis on the science, technology, engineering, and math-related contributions of world-renowned balloonists, the redesigned International Ballooning Hall of Fame at the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, now open to the public, delves into the groundbreaking advancements and achievements of Hall of Fame inductees. The new exhibition traces the stories of inductees, beginning […]
Upcoming FUGO Balloon Exhibit Needs $137,000
Two museums in Michigan have come together to create a hands-on exhibit of the world’s first intercontinental bomb, which is a rare World War II artifact. The exhibit will educate visitors about the history and science of Japanese bomb-carrying balloons, called FUGOs. These scientifically inventive weapons were unleashed by the Japanese military to fly the […]
How Students Livestreamed the Solar Eclipse from Near Space to NASA’s Website
The United States experienced a total solar eclipse on 21st August 2017 for the first time since 1918, with the path of totality across the entire continental United States. About 20 million people (a conservative estimate) watched from the path, and according to NASA, 40 million people watched the live eclipse broadcast on its website and […]
MSU Presents Early Results of Solar Eclipse Ballooning Project
During the August 2017 total solar eclipse, the planetary boundary layer—also known as the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) —sank to roughly 2,500 feet, according to Angela Des Jardins, principal investigator of the Eclipse Ballooning Project. Des Jardins, who is also director of the Montana Space Grant Consortium, was one of five scientists on a panel […]
