Inside the world of Australia’s high-altitude balloonists and why they’re not afraid of a missile

When a US object was shot down the same day an amateur balloon went missing, hobbyists here took note. But they’re satisfied strict regulations will protect them

Last Sunday, on a bright and cloudless morning, about 20 people gathered in a park in Ararat, in south-west Victoria, to release a balloon.

The hobbyists, members of the Eastern & Mountain District Radio Club’s high-altitude balloon group, loaded their aircraft with 400 grams of equipment: a GPS; sensors measuring temperature, pressure and humidity; and a camera that relayed pictures from the air every 30 seconds.

“It’s a fun opportunity for families, kids, adults of all ages to engage with Stem,” says Trevor Warren, who runs the group.

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