TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Tucson's World View Enterprises is mostly known for its plans to use a balloon to take tourists to the edge of space, then glide them safely to Earth.
Now the company is announcing a different balloon technology for flying scientific instruments and military communications.
The company says what it calls a "Stratolite" is able to fly all the way around the Earth or keep technology packages over a specific area for days at a time.
World View says its' specialized balloons are less expensive than satellites launched on rockets and able to be launched quickly in weathter conditions that might interfere with a rocket launch.
The company also announced an additional 15 million dollars in financial backing on top of about 7 million already secured.
The company is building a headquarters and launch facility near Tucson International airport, with the help of an incentive package from Pima County.
