Hey everyone.

Near space starts at around 23KM away from the Earth and ends at 100KM. Party-sized balloons that are accidently let go can rise up to 32KM high. This is well within the boundary of near space. Then, they can't rise up any further since the "air" around them has the same mass as the helium inside the balloon. After a few hours, the balloons explode due to decreased pressure of the "air" outside the balloon which causes the balloon to expand enormously.

Now, lets prevent this explosion from happening. This can be easily achieved by using a suitable form of material. Titanium would be a good example. It is as strong as steel but lighter by almost 50%. Anyway, fill up the titanium box with helium and bolt the lid shut. The larger the box, the better. The next step would be to attach a small camera onto it so you can see what space looks like. Make sure the camera is properly sealed and protected. Finally, launch it outside. It should start rising up.

When it has reached 23KM, it would now be in space. However, it won't stop there. Instead, it will continue rising until around 30KM, due to the additional weight of the titanium and onboard camera. From this distance, you should be able to see the natural curvature of the Earth and the blackness of space. The stars would be shining and the blue Earth glowing like a marble. This would be space.

How much will this cost? Around $5,000 maybe? If so, then that means you can build a functioning spacecraft for less than a used car! Wouldn't that be nice?

No need for pesky old NASA spending millions of dollars. I might even do this at home if I have enough time.

By the way, i'm being serious. I think that this is possible and would finally open up the pathway for a truly affordable space solution.

Titanium might be lighter than steel, but its a heck of a lot heavier than latex.

The reason latex works is because it is LIGHT and can EXPAND as it rises.

Titanium, not so light and really not so good in the expansion dept.



Arthur

that would have to be an awfuly big box

Okay, change of plans...



What do you guys think? This is going to make NASA obsolete!

A far cheaper way is to hang around outside with a plaque stating "Dear filthy alien weirdos, please abduct me"....or "Take me to your homeworld & you can mess with my genitals all you like".... ....If you're lucky, this is a most cheap & effective means of extra-terrestrial transit.

Aliens?

Anyway, Instead of hydrogen, you could also construct a lightweight box and remove the atoms inside to make it a vacuum. This would probably be almost weightless and would eventually float into space too.

Think of the possibilities...

However, i'm still sticking with my original idea. Don't be suprised if I actually attempt to replicate my plan. I'll be on headlines, newspaapers, and television as the first privately-launched spacecraft to be sent into space. I'll literally be famous!

Hi Condraz23

I believe that balloons work on the same principle as boats. The displacement of a medium (water or air) gives rise to buoyancy.

Cheap way into space.

Buy three used 747 aircraft.

Hire aerospace engineers.

Join two of those 747 aircraft together, so a large platform is based on the back of the 747 carrier aircraft.

Design and build a two thirds sized space shuttle.

Make design, so that there is a little more fly in the design, that a regular space shuttle.

Place extra liqui fueled palates on shuttle and with crane set shuttle on back of modified carrier aircraft.

Fly aircraft to about thirty six thousand feet, fly drop maneuver, release shuttle at start of nose down flight patterns.

Let aircraft break right or left while shuttle hangs ion air, ignite rocket engines.

Extra fuel beneath shuttle, will help shuttle get to orbit.

This was covered here:

Getting into space cheap

Arthur

though it may be cheap, but it might not be safe.