Scientific Ballooning

Scientific ballooning involves using specially designed balloons filled with gases like helium or hydrogen to carry equipment high into the Earth's atmosphere. These balloons ascend to altitudes of up to 40 kilometers, above most of the weather and clouds, providing a stable platform for scientific experiments. Researchers use these balloons to study atmospheric phenomena, cosmic rays, climate, and space conditions. They are a cost-effective way to access near-space environment for research, data collection, and testing instruments, then safely descend with parachutes for recovery and analysis.