The little Balloon

The balloon has had an amazing impact on the development of aviation technology. Something so simple made major advancements in technology overall.

**What are these balloons? **
They are aerostats or put differently, a lighter - than - air craft. It is made of very lightweight material eg. Nylon. Heated air is blown into the balloon via filled with a gas such as helium. This process causes the balloon to rise. The pilot and passengers ride in a gondola fitted underneath the balloon.

This is rather common knowledge, but the experimentation done with mere balloons is one of the reasons that aeroplanes can fly!

Do you perhaps think that the Wright Brothers had it under control? No they also needed the knowledge of the balloon experiments to ' lift off'.

Scientists launched various instruments attached to balloons to obtain critical information. Eg. The upper atmosphere and weather predictions. It does not end with that though. Scientists and the public got excited and competitions and record- setting followed. The French Brothers made a breakthrough by sending passengers up and have them land safely.

**Balloons in war. **
From this point, much relevant information was forthcoming.
Balloons were invaluable in military operations during the US Civil War ( 1861- 1865) and the Franco - Prussian war (1870 - 1871).
Trained soldiers went up in tethered balloons, anchored to the ground by long ropes as to observe enemy troops. They were able to direct cannon fire more accurately.
Balloons were used again in WW1. Barrage balloons were anchored by long cables along the British coast as to block enemy aircraft. Japan actually sent bombs in balloons. Few completed the trip and the rest landed in remote areas.
At this point in time even more experiments were done. Two scientists rose their balloon to a staggering 30000 feet without oxygen. The altitude was dangerous as suffocation with a lack of oxygen was likely.

The French Zenith carried oxygen bottles with 3 passengers. They reached 25000 feet. On return only 1 person was alive. In 1927 an American military balloonist lost consciousness at 44000 ft wearing an oxygen mask.

Valuable information was provided about altitude, atmosphere and temperature via these experiments
Most of us will know about the famous Kitty Hawk that set an overland record, floating from California to Quebec!!

Further studies set the mark for safe aviation. Information from instruments include measurement, temperature pressure humidity, atmosphere, radiation in the form of visible light, x- rays, gamma rays, cosmic rays, infrared or ultraviolet radiation. Moreover it information included using telescopes, spectroscopy, photo meters and cosmic ray counters.

Today we use parts of this technology for space exploration, diving and yes, flying.

When undertaking a flight again and your flight plan tells you that you are 40000 ft up in the atmosphere and the temperature outside is freezing and your plane with approximately 250 passengers, all feeling cosy an comfortable, give the little balloon and excited scientists ages past a humble thought.

SpaceX - Mans most audacious dream

Bibliography

The new book of knowledge - Grolier incorporated.
Websters Encyclopeida
Images are from Pixabay - no attribution required
Last image from SpaceX as per emdedded link

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