Blog
Insights on near-space flight testing, mission operations, and STEM education from the StratoStar team.
Can I launch a weather balloon (11 things to know)
Launching a weather balloon means weather, FAA rules, and the right gear. Here are 11 things to know before your first launch — for a safe, successful mission.
How long will a weather balloon stay in the air? ( #1 Mistake)
A typical weather balloon flight lasts about 2–3 hours from launch to burst. Here's what controls flight time — and the #1 mistake that cuts it short.
How High Can A Balloon Go Before It Pops?
Weather balloons climb to roughly 100,000 ft before the thinning air bursts them. Here's why they pop, how high they reach, and what happens next.
Weather Balloon Facts
Surprising weather balloon facts: how high they fly, what gas lifts them, how they're tracked, and how modern electronics make near-space data accessible.
How Much Weight Can A High Altitude Weather Balloon Carry?
How much payload a high-altitude weather balloon can lift, the FAA weight limits that apply, and why those restrictions exist.
How High Can Weather Balloons Go?
Weather balloons routinely reach 80,000–100,000 ft — the edge of space. Here's how high they go, what limits the altitude, and how it's measured.
Weather Balloons: How Do They Actually Work?
How a weather balloon works — launch, ascent, burst near 100,000 ft, and recovery — and why it's a hands-on way to do real near-space science.