Stratospheric Balloon Descriptions

Abstract

NASA’s Balloon Program Office uses multiple types of balloons to lift science payloads into the atmosphere. The same is true for both U.S. and international commercial organizations. In general, a balloon used to launch a payload to an altitude of 18 km (60,000 ft) or more is designed for stratospheric flight. A few are even capable of briefly reaching into the lower part of the mesosphere, which is generally considered to be 50-80 km (164,000-262,000 ft), although such an altitude is not currently sustainable. NASA officials have said the zero-pressure balloon called the “Big 60” set a new sustainable record by reaching 48.5 km (159,000 ft) during an 8 hour flight on August 17, 2018, traveling well into the stratosphere and ascending 8 km (5 mi) higher than the next-largest balloon prototype.