StratOS¶

• Stratosphere is the second layer of Earth's atmosphere.
• It extends from 10-50 km (~33,000-165,000 ft) above the Earth's surface.
• Stratospheric Mission is a high-altitude balloon mission that takes place in the stratosphere.
• During the mission participants design, build, and launch their own experiments to the stratosphere.
• You can participate regardless of your nationality, background or experience!

About¶

What is the Stratosphere and the Near-Space Environment?¶

• The stratosphere is one of the layers of the atmosphere.
• It begins at approximately 14-20 km (~45,000-65,000 ft) above the Earth's surface and extends to an altitude of approximately 50 km (depending on geographic latitude and atmospheric factors, such as pressure and relative humidity).
• Temperature in the lower layers begins at approximately -60°C (-76°F) and increases to around 0°C (32°F) near the upper boundary with the mesosphere.

What are stratospheric missions?¶

• Stratospheric missions are unmanned flights to the stratosphere using high-altitude balloons (commonly referred to as weather balloons) for the purpose of conducting scientific research.
• The balloons are usually filled with hydrogen or helium.
• The payload is typically lifted to an altitude of 24-35 km (~78,000-115,000 ft) above sea level.
• The payload together with the flight platform must not exceed 2400 grams (5.29 lbs).

What scientific objectives can be achieved?¶

• Study of stratospheric parameters, such as temperature gradients, pressure, and winds.
• Study of the ozone layer in the stratosphere.
• Study of the stratospheric microbiome.
• Study of the chemical composition of the stratosphere.
• Physical study of the stratosphere, including measurements of UV radiation and high-energy particles (HEP).
• Study of the influence of solar winds on the upper layers of the stratosphere.
• Study of extremely low frequency (ELF) waves resulting from atmospheric electrical discharges.
• Study of material properties and radiation resistance.
• Study of cellular stress in plants, tissues, and living organisms (e.g. insects).

StratOS Platform¶

• StratOS is a service provided by AATC consisting of comprehensive support for stratospheric missions.
• With StratOS, a scientist or engineer can conduct research in the stratosphere without the need to manage mission logistics.
• AATC provides, among others:
  • flight planning and landing site prediction, selection of lifting gas, transportation of gas cylinders, and valve operations,
  • flight notification to the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency,
  • airspace compliance and infringement monitoring,
  • planned flight termination capability,
  • safe payload ascent operations,
  • payload capsule design,
  • payload mass measurements prior to launch,
  • verification of non-interference between experiments,
  • real-time balloon and payload tracking during flight,
  • real-time telemetry data acquisition,
  • precise landing position determination,
  • payload recovery, including in adverse terrain and weather conditions,
  • flight analysis and visualization of results.

Technical Parameters¶

Mass:

• Maximum total system mass: 2400 grams (5.29 lbs)
• Platform dry mass: 150 grams (0.33 lbs)
• Useful payload mass: 2250 grams (4.96 lbs)

Flight altitude:

• Maximum altitude achieved: 39,405 meters (129,281 ft)
• Average altitude across all flights: 29,498 meters (96,778.22 ft)

Flight Prediction¶

• AATC StratOS enables the estimation of the approximate landing location several days prior to the mission.

• This allows mission scheduling decisions and appropriate allocation of personnel and resources.

• Landing prediction is influenced by multiple factors, including:

  • launch location,
  • atmospheric conditions,
  • payload mass,
  • type of lifting gas and planned balloon fill volume,
  • balloon envelope material properties,
  • predicted ascent rate,
  • predicted balloon burst altitude,
  • parachute selection and configuration,
  • predicted descent rate.

• AATC StratOS enables the determination of these parameters and the generation of landing prediction maps.

• The predictions allow estimation of the landing area with a touchdown ellipse spanning several kilometers and a confidence level of 95%.

Real-Time Telemetry¶

• StratOS enables real-time flight tracking.
• Mobile application with current position, altitude, and ascent/descent rate.
• Automatic updates of landing site predictions.
• Ability to transfer predicted landing coordinates directly to vehicle navigation applications such as Google Maps or Apple Maps.
• Simultaneous visualization of all tracking teams on a shared map.
• Real-time monitoring of technical parameters such as internal and external temperature, voltage, and pressure.
• Communication between recovery and tracking team members.

Scientific Experiments¶

• Support in payload preparation
• Support in defining the research objective
• Support in preparing scientific experiments

Examples:

• Active stabilization
• Vision-based cameras
• Hyperspectral imaging

Custom Capsule and Parachute Design¶

• AATC offers an additional service covering custom design of the capsule and parachute systems.
• It includes the possibility to define payload distribution inside the capsule.
• It also allows specification of parameters such as active cooling, payload heating, lighting conditions, low-light (semi-darkness) operation, or full exposure to the external environment.
• Parachute design is provided to ensure appropriate landing velocity.

Capsule Recovery¶

• AATC provides payload and capsule recovery attempts also under adverse conditions, including:
• rooftops of houses, buildings, and industrial facilities,
• tree canopies, shrubs, and dense vegetation such as nettles,
• night-time operations,
• wetland environments, including meadows and floodplains,
• water environments, including lakes and ponds,

• underwater environments, including lakebeds.

• AATC possesses the appropriate equipment and qualifications for recovery operations in adverse environments, including tree climbing and diving without depth limitations.

• The primary condition for initiating a recovery attempt is crew safety.

Payload recovery statistics (as of May 2026):

• fully recovered: 31 times,
• partially recovered: 1 time,
• payload lost: 1 time.

Post-Flight Data Analysis¶

• AATC provides flight analysis.
• Visualization of flight parameters.
• 3D visualization of ground tracks.
• Numerical representation of values.
• Availability of data in CSV or JSON format.

Control¶

• Precision Control Over Each Flight Phase

Offer¶

Included in the price:

• Technical support in scientific payload design
• Prediction and real-time telemetry
• Payload recovery attempt, including in adverse terrain conditions
• Telemetry data and flight analysis

Additional charges apply for:

• Payload capsule design
• Capsule parachute design

Previous Missions¶

Biostrat¶

• Project: Biostrat - Biological Samples in the Stratosphere
• Date: 2020-2026 (ongoing)
• Flights: 34 (as of May 2026)
• Client: AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland
• Max altitude: 39 405 m (129 281 ft)

In collaboration with the AGH University of Science and Technology, we launched the Biostrat mission to the stratosphere. The AATC was responsible for mission planning and execution, logistics, the design and construction of a passive thermal scientific capsule.

Biostrat is a long running project, with the first stratospheric flight taking place in 2020. The mission's goal is to study the effects of stratospheric conditions on various biological samples, including microorganisms and plant seeds. The mission has provided valuable insights into the potential for life to survive and adapt in extreme environments, which has implications for astrobiology and the search for life beyond Earth.

So far Biostrat has completed 34 stratospheric flights, with more planned in the future.

Pamela¶

• Project: PAMELA (Plant, Arachne and Microorganism Exposure to the Light Activity in the near-space environment)
• Date: 2019-05-18
• Flights: 1
• Max altitude: 34 132 m (111 981 ft)
• Start: 50.269775, 18.651419
• Landing: 50.621639, 17.902667
• Client: University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
• Competition: Global Space Balloon Challenge
• Award: 1st place in Best Educational Experiment

Together with the University of Silesia, we created the PAMELA team and have already launched two PAMELA stratospheric flights. The AATC was responsible for the design and construction of a passive thermal scientific capsule, as well as radiation tests of the kombucha prototype material.

Our efforts were distinguished in the Global Space Balloon Challenge, where we won the first Prize for the Best Educational Experiment.

Elf¶

• ELF - Extreme Low Frequencies in the Stratosphere
• Date: 2016-11-27
• Flights: 1
• Max altitude: 30 258 m (99 271 ft)
• Start: 50.269775, 18.651419
• Landing: 50.097611, 20.540472

Publications¶

• Bergiel G., Gajewska M., Klima B., Adamczyk B., Kot G., Danioł M., Harasymczuk M.M., Kołodziejczyk A.M. (2025) "Lab-on-chip laboratory to detect effects of UV radiation on cellular growth in near-space environment." Journal: Springer Aerospace Technology. Publisher: Springer, Cham. ISBN: 978-3-031-91226-9. Field: Experimental Platforms for the Near Space Environment (Stratosphere). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-91227-6_21

• Kołodziejczyk A.M., Pichór P., Guziewicz W., Damian W., Wysocka A., Koba M., Krawczyk B., Stępień J., Klima B., Tokarczyk W., Foryś W., Duda K., Gąbka M., Kot G., Harasymczuk M.M. (2024) "BIOSTRAT - development of research capsule to carry out astrobiological experiments and testing in a 'near-space' environment in the stratosphere Springer Aerospace Technology." Journal: Springer Aerospace Technology. Publisher: Springer, Cham. ISBN: 978-3-031-53609-0. Field: Experimental Platforms for the Near Space Environment (Stratosphere). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-53610-6_5

• Górecki I., Kołodziejczyk A.M., Harasymczuk M.M., Młynarczyk G., Szymanek-Majchrzak K. (2022) "The Impact of Harsh Stratospheric Conditions on Survival and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Non- Spore Forming Multidrug Resistant Human Pathogenic Bacteria Causing Hospital-Associated Infections." Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042787

• Kołodziejczyk A.M. (2020) "High altitude balloon experiments as a gateway to space. Educational program for space biology and space medicine in the stratosphere." Journal: Annales Astronomiae Novae. Volume: 1. ISBN: 978-83-957016-0-3. ISSN: 2719-3616. Page: 105-114. URL: http://astronomianova.org/pdf/AAN1_2020_1.pdf

• Papaj A., Weszka P., Bocheński M., Michałek M., Kułak A., Kołodziejczyk A.M., Harasymczuk M.M., Karbowniczek P., Ławrynowicz A., Kuźma J., et al. (2017) "The design and the performance of stratospheric mission in the search for the Schumann resonances." Journal: Czasopismo Techniczne. Volume: 11. Issue: 114. Page: 233-242. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4467/2353737XCT.17.204.7433

Date¶

Contact¶

If you have any questions, please email us at: info@aatc.pl

Apply¶

To apply please contact us at: info@aatc.pl