StratoCat is an independent source of historical data and current news on the development of stratospheric balloons for scientific research, aerospace and military applications, and commercial exploitation of near space.

Balloon launches by year

Complete list of stratospheric balloon launches by year, ordered chronologically, with flight details, specific payload, images, etc.

Balloon launches by base

Detailed information and launch logs for main balloon launch facilities including balloon bases, airports, and ships around the world.

Detailed flight reports

Ordered chronologically, detailed accounts of many balloon missions containing description of the payloads, details of the flight, pictures, videos and links to external references.

Articles

The stories that shaped scientific ballooning. Events and happenings, many of them memorable and epic, some others funny, a few curious or strange and even some tragedies.

Balloon Encyclopedia

Brief overview of those individuals, organizations, programs and events that had contributed to some extent to the development of scientific ballooning.

On this day...

Remembering every month important events and dates of scientific ballooning history

In this edition:

  • Summer NASA/CNES balloon campaign in ESRANGE
  • Iwaya Inc. new Japanese altitude record
  • JAXA campaign in Taiki
  • 500 days of continuous flights for Aerostar
  • World View's recent activity
  • Space Perspective's balloon launch ship arrives home
  • SCEYE Airship longer flights so far
  • New player in the field: Balloon Tech Co.
  • In the news: Julian Nott, Korea's balloon war, ESA Symposium, Halo Space, Hera Rising, Chinese balloon program, Urban Sky

World Balloon News is a somewhat regular bulletin containing balloon-related news of what's going on in the field, some speculation (fancy term for "insider data" from sources I can't reveal), historical images, and details about the new contents that week after week enrich this humble project.

Weekly Balloon News # 11 - Chinese balloon edition - March 4th, 2023

Contents:

  • What kind of balloon it was?
  • Not an isolated incident, and not a "fleet" of spy balloons.
  • Previous sightings. Connecting the dots
  • The first downing using missiles? Yes and No
  • The "secret" Chinese balloon base
  • Science on the edge of reality
  • The "weather balloon" explanation 70 years later

Left: The best picture of the Chinese balloon, taken by Frank Melliere above Illinois

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Balloons in flight (updated 8-Nov-2024 - 11:54:36pm)

Launched fromIn flight sincePayload or experimentLast known status
  Santa Fe County (NM)3/28/2024THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 676Probably STILL IN FLIGHT (AEROSTAR'S new endurance record)
>>>> Follow the flight in real-time here
  Indiantown County (FL)4/22/2024THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 684Probably STILL IN FLIGHT (AEROSTAR'S 2nd endurance record)
>>>> Follow the flight in real-time here
  Elizabeth City (NC)10/8/2024THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 711Probably STILL IN FLIGHT
>>>> Follow the flight in real-time here
  Hurley (SD) 10/15/2024THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 713Probably STILL IN FLIGHT
>>>> Follow the flight in real-time here
  Hurley (SD) 11/8/2024THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 647STILL IN FLIGHT
>>>> Follow the flight in real-time here

Last completed balloon flights (updated 8-Nov-2024 - 11:54:36pm)

Launch baseDateExperimentFlight duration
 Baker Muni2024/8/4STRATO (Strategic Tactical Radio and Tactical Overwatch)34 d
 Fort Sumner (NM)2024/9/4HASP 2024 (High Altitude Student Platform)11 h 30 m
 Page (AZ)2024/8/31STRATOLLITE28 d
 Hurley (SD)2024/9/26PAYLOAD UNKNOWN9 h
 Fort Sumner (NM)2024/9/24DR-TES (Dilution Refrigerator Transition Edge Sensor)10 h
 Santa Fe County (NM)2024/9/3THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 70321 d 8 h
 Fort Sumner (NM)2024/9/23TIM (Terahertz Intensity Mapper)8 h
 Santa Fe County (NM)2024/9/3THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 70121 d 5 h
 Santa Fe County (NM)2024/9/3THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 70220 d 7 h
 Santa Fe County (NM)2024/9/2THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 7057 h 35 m
 MS Voyager2024/9/15NEPTUNE CAPSULE TEST #18 h
 Capitan (NM)2024/9/12THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 70718 h 20 m
 Capitan (NM)2024/9/12THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 70615 h
 Fort Sumner (NM)2024/8/31EXCITE (Exoplanet Climate Infrared Telescope)11 h
 Guelmim2024/8/7THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT N258TH2 h 15 m
 Cross City (FL)2024/6/27THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 64564 d 12 h
 Guelmim2024/8/8THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 70022 d 10 h
 Taiki2024/8/3BIOPAUSE PROJECT ATMOSPHERIC SAMPLER3 h
 Hurley (SD)2024/8/28THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 70426 h
 Fort Sumner (NM)2024/8/28HASP 2.0 (High Altitude Student Platform 2.0)6 h 35 m
 Cross City (FL)2024/6/25THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 64363 d 20 h
 Guelmim2024/8/7THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 69820 d 23 h
 Avon Park (FL)2024/6/22THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 64163 d 16 h
 Santa Cruz County (CA)2024/8/21PAYLOAD UNKNOWN11 h 20 m
 Fort Sumner (NM)2024/8/22SALTER TEST FLIGHT5 h 30 m
 Fort Sumner (NM)2024/8/21TINMAN (ThermalIzed Neutron MeAsuremeNt experiment)6 h 10 m
 Cross City (FL)2024/6/25THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 64238 d 13 h
 Roswell (NM)2024/8/15SCEYE- STRATOSPHERIC AIRSHIP29 h
 Page (AZ)2024/8/12TECHRISE STUDENT CHALLENGE5 h 40 m
 Taiki2024/7/4RERA #4 (Rubber balloon Experiment for Reentry capsule with thin-type Aeroshell)~ 2 h
 Taiki2024/7/25HIGH-PRECISION VERIFICATION OF GENERAL RELATIVITY BY LASER FREQUENCY COMPARISON1 h
 Hurley (SD)2024/7/16THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 6972 d 3 h
 ESRANGE2024/7/10SUNRISE III6 d 15 h
 ESRANGE2024/7/13BIG60 + BOOMS3 d 2 h
 ESRANGE2024/7/9XL-CALIBUR5 d 20 h
 Roswell (NM)2024/6/3SCEYE- STRATOSPHERIC AIRSHIP17 h 20 m
 Cross City (FL)2024/6/25THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 6444 d 14 h
 ESRANGE2024/5/28HELIX (High Energy Light Isotope eXperiment)6 d 8 h 27 m
 ESRANGE2024/6/26ATMOSFER11 h
 ESRANGE2024/6/22TRANSAT3 d 19 h
 Hurley (SD)2024/6/7THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 68813 d 11 h
 Santa Cruz County (CA)2024/6/19PAYLOAD UNKNOWN8 h 40 m
 Guam, Mariana Islands2024/6/10THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 6954 d
 Guam, Mariana Islands2024/6/10THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 6944 d
 ESRANGE2024/6/12SAPHERALLER~ 5 h
 Hurley (SD)2024/5/1THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 68546 h
 Spaceport Tucson (AZ)2024/5/22SCOUT-1 PARAGLIDER TEST2 h
 Santa Fe County (NM)2024/1/27THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 673111 d
 Hurley (SD)2024/5/14THUNDERHEAD FLIGHT 68628 h
 Spaceport Tucson (AZ)2024/5/10STRATOLLITE - AETHER 2R63 h