1. Stratospheric balloons

1.1 Brief history

The Montgolfier brothers created the first paper balloons inflated with hot air in Annonay in 1783. This was followed in the United States by balloons and hydrogen-powered airships on aircraft carriers. After Charles Dollfuss's ballooning exploits in 1911 came Bertrand Piccard's achievements (see § 3.8 of [TE 7 628] ). The American balloon altitude record (38.9 km) has been held since October 2012 by American Felix Baumgartner, aboard the "Red Bull Stratos"....