The 10 Most Amazing Usesfor Gas Balloons

Surveillance AerostatFitted with electronic and communication intelligence equipment, radar and thermal imaging for security in India.Image from DRDO, Defence Research & Development Organisationhttp://www.drdo.gov.in/

Cargo TransportCombined with vertical take off and landing, this airship has a bigger cargo capacity than a Boeing 747.Image from Aeroscrafthttp://aeroscraft.com/

“Satelloons” or Satellite BalloonsOrbiting 1000 miles above earth, Echo 1 was the first communication satellite, launched in 1960. Google plans to use balloons to fill networks gaps, floating at just 12 miles up.Image from NASAhttp://www.nasa.gov/Image from Googlehttp://www.google.com/loon/

Film Set LightingPlacing lights where gantries and scaffolding can’t reach, these balloons provide controllable wide area lighting.Image from Airstarhttp://www.airstar.com.au/

Giant Projector ScreenThe Lindstrand Technologies aerostat inside the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.Image from Lindstrand Technologieshttp://www.lindstrandtech.com/

Search and RescueTowable behind a car, boat or other vehicle, the A300 helikite sends live video wirelessly in HD or thermal to ground crew and remote command posts.Image from Search Systems

http://www.searchsystems.eu

SalvageRefloating cars, boats and sunken vessels, the Subsalve flotation bags bring large items to the surface at a controlled speed.Image from Subsalve USA

http://www.subsalve.com/

Deploying a Man from SpaceRedBull used a high altitude balloon with a space capsule underneath to break the sound barrier during freefall on the pilots’ return jump from space.Image from RedBull

http://www.redbullstratos.com/

Temporary CCTVAn aerostat attached to a vehicle provides CCTV at an agricultural show where cameras and power lines cannot be permanently installed.Image from Search Systems

http://www.searchsystems.eu

Flying Wind TurbineThe Bouyant Airborne Turbine is a flying wind turbine, filled with helium gas and tethered to a control system with power conditioning equipment.Image from Altaeros energies

http://www.altaerosenergies.com/