Back in the late 50s, early 60s, there were some nuclear tests
in space which involved hauling a rocket to a great height via
balloon, then launching the rocket - Friend of mine who lived
in Hawaii at the time remembers seeing a night-time test - At
a line of sight distance of something like 500 miles...
 
> I heard some interesting theories some time ago about a large wedge shaped
> balloon that was meant to be, quite literally, flown to very high altitude
> then used to launch an orbiting station. It was actually more of a dirigible
> (which have always fascinated me) for very high altitude flight. Don't
> remember the exact link, but they were building a small version in a huge
> hanger. 

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