The balloon is called a Gryphon Stratolite and is designed to operate between 45,000 and 75,000 feet, according to World View ...

But you can still fly your own with a helium balloon and some electronics. One notable project — the Blimpduino — has evolved into the Blimpduino 2. The open-source software is on GitHub.

Some of the balloonists have turned on their gas burners and point them into the open end of the balloon. You tilt your head back to watch them lift off the ground and fill the sky with a rainbow ...