BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. — A balloon attracted the attention of the public Friday while flying near Denver.
The large, white balloon was spotted flying at high altitude near Longmont Friday morning.
The balloon is part of the Stratollite high-altitude balloon systems, according to World View Enterprises.
The company said the balloon is carrying a payload for NASA that is measuring solar radiation in the stratosphere above the 40th parallel for up to two weeks. The company said the balloon was launched from northern Arizona last Saturday.
The balloon is called a Gryphon Stratolite and is designed to operate between 45,000 and 75,000 feet, according to World View Enterprises. It uses helium gas for lift, and a rotator orients its solar arrays – which hang off the bottom of the balloon – toward the sun for maximum power.
