The eternal goal of balloon development is to fly heavier onboard equipment higher and for a longer time. Such a balloon is much anticipated in various scientific observation and engineering experiment fields. At the same time, development of a next generation balloon creates new research opportunities in space science. The Balloon Project Team has been researching and developing a unique super thin membrane high altitude balloon that travels to the mesosphere through the stratosphere. In 2002, we successfully achieved a 53.0-km altitude flight of a 3.4-micron thick polyethylene film balloon -- a world record for unmanned balloon flight. We are continuing to pursue higher altitude flights by a thinner film balloon. We are also aiming to set a world record in the development of a "super pressure balloon," which can fly at a predetermined altitude for tens of days. We expect that in the near future, we will see a balloon fly around another planet that has an atmosphere and conduct a probe.

Although it has been over 200 years since the first hot-air balloon made a successful flight, balloons are still evolving. We would like to expand the possibilities for balloons that gracefully float in the sky.