More Information on High-Altitude Balloons

High-altitude balloons (HABs) are unmanned balloons designed to carry payloads (such as cameras, sensors, or experiments) into the stratosphere, typically reaching altitudes of 18–37 km (60,000–120,000 feet). They are used for scientific research, weather monitoring, amateur radio, and even space exploration simulations.

Educational Resources

1. NASA’s High-Altitude Balloon Program

   • Overview of NASA’s use of HABs for scientific research.
   • NASA Balloon Program Office
     

2. Cambridge University High-Altitude Ballooning Guide

   • A comprehensive guide for students and researchers.
   • Cambridge HAB Guide

3. High-Altitude Ballooning Basics (Instructables)

   • Step-by-step guide for building and launching your own HAB.
   • Instructables HAB Guide

Organizations and Projects

1. Stratospheric Balloon Association

   • A community for HAB enthusiasts and researchers.
   • Association Website

2. StratoStar

   • Provides kits and resources for high-altitude ballooning.
   • StratoStar Website

3. New England Weather Balloon Society

   • Orginization helping New Englanders launch weather balloons, open to anyone in the world, with an active chat community.
   • NEWBS

Tools and Software

1. HabHub

   • A suite of tools for predicting balloon flights, tracking, and data analysis.
   • HabHub Website

2. APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System)

   • A tool for tracking HABs using amateur radio.
   • APRS Website

3. CUSF Landing Predictor

   • Predicts the landing location of high-altitude balloons.
   • CUSF Landing Predictor

DIY and Community Projects

1. Public Lab’s High-Altitude Ballooning Kit

   • A community-driven project for DIY ballooning mapping.
   • Public Lab HAB Kit

2. UK High-Altitude Ballooning Community

   • A group of enthusiasts sharing projects and launches.
   • UKHAS Website

3. Raspberry Pi High-Altitude Ballooning Forum

   • Using Raspberry Pi for HAB payloads.
   • Raspberry Pi HAB Forum

Why They Matter

High-altitude balloons are a cost-effective way to conduct experiments and observations in near-space environments. They are used for:

• Weather and climate research
• Testing space-bound instruments
• Amateur photography and exploration
• Educational outreach and STEM projects

Whether you’re a student, researcher, or hobbyist, high-altitude ballooning offers a unique opportunity to explore the stratosphere and contribute to scientific discovery.