- Would it be possible?
- Could you survive?
- Practical?
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There are many questions about balloons on this site, I recommend you use the site's search to familiarize yourself with them. – GdD Jul 27 '17 at 08:05
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Possible duplicate of Could it be possible to launch a rocket from a balloon? – GdD Jul 27 '17 at 08:06
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There is no mention of any rocket here, not really a duplicate, but too broad/unclear to answer. It is good advice to read other balloon-related questions and especially their answers first. – uhoh Jul 27 '17 at 15:11
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No. Reaching low orbit requires a horizontal velocity of almost 8 km/s (17500 mph). The balloons won't provide any velocity aside from that of the atmosphere they're floating in, which tops out at about 70 m/s (150 mph) in a strong jetstream.
pericynthion
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Ok. Well what about just reaching that point. The altitude of low orbit. – Samuel Strachan Jul 27 '17 at 15:06
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2@SamuelStrachan: Record altitude for a balloon is around 180K feet, or a little over 30 miles. Typical orbits start at around 100 miles. Answer's still no. – John Bode Jul 27 '17 at 22:47
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No. A low orbit must be above the atmosphere, but you could not leave the atmosphere with a balloon. A low orbit needs a high horizontal velocity but a balloon just moves with the wind but does not accelerate on its own. The height of a low orbits is at least 200 km, but a balloon only about 30 km. As Pericynthion wrote, a velocity of about 8 km/s is necessary, but a balloon is very, very slow in comparison. Besides that, the direction of the velocity is important.
Uwe
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Ok. Well what about just reaching that point. The altitude of low orbit. – Samuel Strachan Jul 27 '17 at 15:06
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1You need an atmosphere for a ballon. LEO is in space @SamuelStrachan – Starship - On Strike Apr 07 '22 at 20:05