The ten balloon system climbed
much faster then a single large balloon. It also allowed the rocket to be fired only a few degrees off
vertical without going through the balloon, (the dotted line represents the path of the rocket).  This system was called "The Stack". It was finally replaced with the Dark Sky Station.

     
           The Stack lifting off.

       
          Assembling The Stack.

  Back to the JPA home page.

                                    A rocket launching from a platform lifted by two balloons.

                 This eight foot rocket was lifted by a vertical stack of nine balloons.