Getting up early has never been so much fun!

21 April 2008

Bleary eyed children were nowhere to be seen this morning, it was all balloons, laughter and excitement as hundreds of children enjoyed discovering the science of balloons and flight on the lawns of Old Parliament House.

As part of the 2008 National Autumn Balloon Spectacular, Up, Up and Away with Questacon kicked off this morning.

“Questacon is delighted to be involved in the National Autumn Balloon Spectacular. It’s great to see so many families enjoying the magnificent autumn weather and participating in the free family event, Up, Up and Away with Questacon,” said Questacon Director, Professor Graham Durant.

Following the mass balloon launch, visitors learnt about the science of hot air balloons and flight with Questacon’s in house performance troupe, the Questacon Excited Particles, enjoyed a tethered ride in the Questacon balloon, and were enthralled by the roving science themed entertainment.

“The history of hot air balloons is fascinating, beginning with a sheep, a duck and a rooster more than 200 years ago,” said Soren Jensen, from the Questacon Excited Particles.

“French paper manufactures, Jacques and Joseph Montgolfier noticed that when they burnt paper the ashes floated up in the air. They thought that the heat and smoke from the flame had a special lifting quality and set their minds to inventing a craft that could capture smoke and heat to lift them off the ground.

“In September 1783, the Montgolfier brothers successfully launched a balloon made from paper and cloth. The brothers were far too nervous to try out their invention themselves so they sent up a sheep, a duck and a rooster to see what happened. The paper balloon floated up into the sky and landed safely after eight minutes.”

Up, Up and Away with Questacon continues on Tuesday 22 April 2008 from 7.00am until 9.30am. The National Autumn Balloon Spectacular runs until Sunday 27 April 2008.