A History Of Balloons & Ballooning

v2.0.2 / TOC (5 chapters) / 01 mar 08 / greg goebel / public domain

* The balloon is the oldest and conceptually simplest flying machine. It was invented over two centuries ago, and still remains in extensive use, not merely for sport but for military purposes and scientific research. This document provides a history of balloons and ballooning.

[1.0] Pioneering The Balloon 1783:1900

• [1.1] THE MONTGOLFIER BROTHERS & THE INVENTION OF THE BALLOON
  
• [1.2] CROSSING THE CHANNEL / DABBLING AT WAR
  
• [1.3] REFINING THE BALLOON
  
• [1.4] RETURN OF THE WAR BALLOON
  
• [1.5] THE AGE OF GIANTS
  
• [1.6] THE DARING RESEARCHERS
  

[2.0] Balloons In Peace & War 1900:1945

• [2.1] BALLOONING IN THE SHADOW OF WAR / BALLOONS IN WORLD WAR I
  
• [2.2] THE STRATOSPHERE EXPEDITIONS
  
• [2.3] BARRAGE BALLOONS IN WORLD WAR II / OPERATION OUTWARD
  
• [2.4] THE FUSEN BAKUDAN
  

[3.0] Cold War Balloon Flights 1945:1965

• [3.1] SKYHOOK / ROCKOON
  
• [3.2] MOGUL / GOPHER / MOBY DICK / FLYING CLOUD
  
• [3.3] GRANDSON / GRAYBACK / GENETRIX / ASH CAN / MELTING POT
  
• [3.4] STRATOSCOPE / FINAL MANNED HIGH-ALTITUDE FLIGHTS
  

[4.0] Modern Ballooning (1)

• [4.1] WEATHER BALLOONS
  
• [4.2] MODERN MILITARY BALLOONS
  
• [4.3] REINVENTING THE HOT-AIR BALLOON
  
• [4.4] MODERN BALLOON ADVENTURERS
  
• [4.5] FOOTNOTE: TOY BALLOONS
  

[5.0] Modern Ballooning (2)

• [5.1] NASA SCIENCE BALLOONS
  
• [5.2] FRENCH SCIENCE BALLOONS
  
• [5.3] PLANETARY AEROBOTS
  
• [5.4] THE VENUS VEGA BALLOONS / THE MARS AEROBOT EFFORT
  
• [5.5] FUTURE PLANETARY AEROBOT MISSION CONCEPTS
  
• [5.6] COMMENTS, SOURCES, & REVISION HISTORY