Balloons first floated people up into the sky in 1783 in France. They were one of the first ways humans took to the skies.
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Deep dives
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Stories
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Joseph Kittinger, Jr.: A Part of Something Altogether Glorious
December 13, 2022
Before Top Gun, Hollywood Promoted Naval Aviation with Dirigible
May 26, 2022
Dealing with the Aftermath of the Hindenburg Disaster
May 06, 2022
AirSpace Season 6, Ep. 1: 99 Luftballons
April 28, 2022
Before Hubble, There Was Operation Stargazer
September 29, 2021
Events
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Story Time: Sally's Great Ballooning Adventure
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Tuesdays and Thursdays in June at 11:00 am and 11:30 am
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Story Time: Sally's Great Ballooning Adventure
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Tuesdays and Thursdays in June at 11:00 am and 11:30 am
Learn more
Story Time: Sally's Great Ballooning Adventure
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Tuesdays and Thursdays in June at 11:00 am and 11:30 am
Exhibitions
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Thomas W. Haas We All Fly
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
October 14, 2022 - October 14, 2037
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Clouds in a Bag
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
February 01, 2017
Learning Resources
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STEM in 30: A Sky Full of Color: Live from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Join STEM in 30 as we explore the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and bring you the history of balloons; the science behind hot-air and gas balloons; and the pageantry of the Fiesta.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuk51Ne-b3Y
Grade 7, Grade 6, Grade 8
Balloons
Student
cc-by-nc
What’s New in Aerospace: Nation Wide Balloon Launch Update
Teacher Trevor MacDuff; students Audrey and Jack; and KMBC9 Meteorologist Neville Miller discuss their balloon launch and what students can learn from a launch.
https://youtu.be/QAXpxif3Jdc
Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, Grades 13-14, Grades 15-16, Grades 17-20
Balloons, Physical science
Student
cc-by-nc
Air and Space Live Chat: Master Hot Air Balloon Pilot Bill Costen
They may seem low-tech but balloons are important to aviation and space. This live chat features pioneering Black hot air balloon pilot Bill Costen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1860PeSUzKM
African American or Black people, Balloons
Student
cc-by-nc
Air and Space Live Chat: Student Balloon Launch: Medium Altitude Balloons
Along with the help of teachers from across the country; the Museum launched medium altitude balloons that could potentially travel around the globe. Learn more about these balloons here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WC4nxlrZ2Y
Balloons
Teacher
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My Path: Master of the Stratosphere Alan Eustace
Be curious; build a good team; ask why -- bits of advice from Stratospheric Explorer Alan Eustace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQiiyOR68nc
Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9
Balloons, Behind the scenes, Human spaceflight, Life sciences, People, Technology and Engineering
Student
cc-by-nc
Lift: Lighter Than Air Aircraft
Learn about the history and dynamics of hot-air balloons.
http://howthingsfly.si.edu/media/lift-lighter-air-aircraft
Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8
Airships, Balloons, Science
Student
cc-by-nc
Publications
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The Eagle Aloft: Two Centuries of the Balloon in America
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Lighter Than Air: An Illustrated History of Balloons and Airships
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Aircraft
Commercial aviation
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Naval aviation
Vertical flight
Helicopters
General aviation
Balloons
Early flight
Airships
Ultralights
Interwar aviation