Core service · Operational

Stratospheric
balloon flights

An affordable, versatile way to reach near-space altitudes of up to 35 km. Science, technology testing, marketing or education — we handle your mission end to end, from planning to recovery.

Stratospheric balloon launch
35 km
Max altitude
100%
Recovery rate to date
LZPT
Primary launch site

Four reasons to reach the edge of space

Scientific
research

A unique environment for experiments needing extreme conditions: reduced pressure, low temperatures and high radiation levels.

Scientific payload in the stratosphere

Technology
testing

Validate sensors, comms and satellite components in near-space conditions before deployment in space or other demanding environments.

Ground tracking antennas during a mission

Education

Students design, build and analyze payloads flown to the edge of space — hands-on physics, engineering and data analysis.

Educational balloon launch with students

Marketing &
branding

Your logo, product or message filmed against the curvature of the Earth — content that captivates audiences and generates viral interest.

Straton brand mark above the curvature of Earth

End-to-end, so you can focus on your goals

One continuous pipeline — from first trajectory run to payload back in your hands.

Atmospheric trajectory and wind analysis 01

Mission planning

Trajectory simulations, meteorological analysis and flight permissions.

Technician assembling a payload gondola 02

Payload design

Custom gondolas with sensors, cameras or antennas — built to your spec.

Balloon ascending after launch 03

Launch & monitoring

Liftoff, then real-time tracking of your payload throughout the flight.

Recovered payload and parachute in a field 04

Payload recovery

We recover your equipment and deliver it with all collected data.

From balloon to payload

Every piece under the balloon has a job — hover or tap a part to see what it does.

Balloon
2–3 m at launch → 10+ m at burst
FTS
Auto or manual release
Parachute
200+ km/h → 4–5 m/s descent
Tracking
3+ independent devices
Main line
Up to 60 m for stability
Payload gondola
Your experiment, built for −60 °C

Stratospheric rideshare

Fly a compact experiment on one of our balloon missions — real near-space conditions for student projects, theses and research demos, without booking a full dedicated flight.

  • 1U class — up to 100 × 100 × 100 mm and 300 g
  • 30–35+ km — ~2–3 hours aloft, recovery and flight data included
  • Allocated by capacity — you fly when a seat opens on an upcoming mission
  • Less schedule control — expect a couple of months of wait; book a dedicated flight if you need a fixed date
Compact rideshare payload for a stratospheric balloon mission Starting at €990

Specialized missions

Unusual timing, unusual path, unusual constraints — if the stratosphere is the right place for it, we can usually shape a flight around what you need.

  • Night flights — missions under the stars, with precise planning and enhanced tracking
  • Custom trajectories — flights tailored to specific regions or paths
  • Extended ascent times — prolonged exposure at high altitudes for demanding payloads
  • Extreme altitudes — flights into the upper stratosphere; our highest flight in 2026 reached almost 44 km — a Slovak record for balloon flight
Night launch preparations for a specialized balloon mission Midnight launch

Earth observation, live from the stratosphere

We're developing a balloon-borne Earth-observation payload with a real-time video downlink — imaging streamed to the ground station as the mission flies, not retrieved hours later from a landed SD card. This work is part of our programme with ESA BIC Slovakia.

  • Live video link from stratospheric altitude to our ground station
  • Built on our own avionics — FTS, tracking and flight computer stack
  • A stepping stone toward persistent EO from the Photon HAPS
Nadir Earth-observation imagery from altitude Live downlink in testing

Partizánske Airport (LZPT)

  • Central location — western Slovakia with good access routes, efficient logistics across the country
  • Favorable winds — predominantly western winds keep most trajectories within Slovak territory, simplifying recovery
  • Full horizon view — 360° line-of-sight for uninterrupted communication during ascent and descent

Need a specific trajectory or landing zone? We can arrange launches from alternative locations after detailed planning.

Launch preparations at Partizánske Airport Primary launch location

Ready for the stratosphere?

Our services are highly customizable — payloads of various sizes and complexities, missions built around your exact requirements. We are ready when you are.

Get in touch