10 amazing uses for gas balloons

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/