Where Blue Skies Turn Black: Soviet Stratospheric Balloon Programme Of The 1930’s*

D. J. Shayler. (1997), JBIS, 50, pp.8-12

Refcode: 1997.50.8

Abstract:

With the development of the aeroplane in the early part of this century manned balloons became less an object of romantic interest and more of a platform for scientific research. In the early 1930’s the stratosphere was an unknown region of our atmosphere. Prior to this decade, unprotected altitude explorers perished in their attempts in exceeding 5-6 miles due to the lack of breathable oxygen. Belgian aeronaut professor Auguste Piccard solved this problem with his hermetically sealed balloon Gondola which was designed to resist pressure within despite a near vacuum outside.