What’s it Like Going Up in a Balloon? Well, it’s a softer ride than many think. As you lift off the ground, the gondola (basket) will generally slide a little bit, but you can’t really feel yourself going up. As a matter of fact, it’s not even as scary as an elevator ride.

A helium-filled balloon can float very high up into the atmosphere, however, it cannot float up into outer space. The balloon can only rise up until the atmosphere surrounding it has the same weight as the helium in the balloon. This happens at about a height of 20 miles (32 kilometers) above Earth’s surface.

Weather balloons don’t have any flashing lights, but they are up to 20 feet in diameter and highly reflective. And they move relative to the stars, as you say you observed. Not surprisingly, these things often trigger UFO reports to police, airports, and military bases.

Casual attire is absolutely appropriate, even expected on a hot air balloon ride. So, aside from a few exceptions, just dress comfortably. The weather up high is about the same as it is at ground level, so dress as you normally would for a walk in your local park.

The pilot aims for the landing to be as soft as possible. This cannot be guaranteed, especially if the wind is fairly strong, Sometimes the landing can be a little rough, with the basket bouncing along the ground a few times before halting.

Yes you can steer a hot air balloon! Hot air balloons don’t have steering wheels, but hot air balloon pilots use the wind direction and speed at different heights in order to steer the balloon. Balloon navigation and flight planning can be broken down into a few areas.

There is a vent in the balloon canopy that allows hot air to escape and this is another means for the balloon to descend. If the burner is not lit for a while, the balloon will eventually land. When landing, the burner is often used for few short bursts to lift it up again and enable the balloon to land in a safe area.

Montgolfier brothers

Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier