Near Space Balloons

If you're wanting to launch a near space balloon project, check out this "getting started" booklet from Capt. Prahas Nafissian, an AEO in the AZ Wing. The Verde Valley Composite Squadron planned their launch for almost a year. Find out how they did it in this 18-page pamphlet.

• Schools and squadrons can also conduct a launch program using the StratoStar company. 

• Or, CAP squadrons can get involved in CAP's High Altitude Balloon Challenge for CAP cadets. 

Find out more about the history of high altitude balloon experiments testing the human body by Col Joe Kittinger. 

Col Kittinger is a former fighter pilot and aeromedical high altitude researcher, amongst many other things. 

• Col Kittinger is the first man to have traveled to space and the first to see the curvature of the earth from space!  See the video of his famed high altitude jump and the benefits to aerospace HERE. (2 min)