Can Balloons launch small space craft?

[mldart]

Could helium filled balloons take small craft into outer space?

 

[Boris_Badenov]

JP Aerospace
http://www.jpaerospace.com/

 

[geegel]

Could helium filled balloons take small craft into outer space?

Helium balloons would be the ideal choice, but hot air balloons are much cheaper and could potentially revolutionize rocket launches.

One of the teams in the Google Lunar XPrize is using this approach (the ARCA team)

Take a look at http://www.arcaspace.ro/orbital/en/flight_sequence.htm

 

[MeteorWayne]

Could helium filled balloons take small craft into outer space?

No, because helium balloons only rise when they are in the atmosphere. Outer space is above the atmosphere, so helium won't help.

 

[JeffreyNYA]

JP Aerospace
http://www.jpaerospace.com/

No updates since july 2008. Are they still working or has the business gone under?

 

[Boris_Badenov]

JP Aerospace
http://www.jpaerospace.com/

No updates since july 2008. Are they still working or has the business gone under?

Their last Blog entry was 4/29/2009, so yes, they're still kickin.

 

[Swampcat]

Direct link to blog.

 

[geegel]

Could helium filled balloons take small craft into outer space?

No, because helium balloons only rise when they are in the atmosphere. Outer space is above the atmosphere, so helium won't help.

Technically true, but this doesn't mean that balloons don't have a future into space exploration. Basically a humble balloon is much better than a rocket as long as there's an usable atmosphere around. A hybrid approach where the balloon takes a rocket to the upper edge of the atmosphere where the launch occurs, will result in a far lower fuel consumption as the atmospheric drag is no longer an issue.

 

[docm]

And for the umpteenth time, the Rockoon -

Link.....