Wonderful Balloon Ascents; Or, The Conquest of the Skies

Download or read book Wonderful Balloon Ascents; Or, The Conquest of the Skies written by Fulgence Marion and published by Good Press. This book was released on 2019-12-05 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fulgence Marion's 'Wonderful Balloon Ascents; Or, The Conquest of the Skies' is a historical account of the development of hot air balloons and their voyages, particularly focusing on the Montgolfier brothers and Vincent Lunardi. Marion reveals how the discovery of the balloon had an extraordinary impact on the people of Europe, arousing enthusiasm, excitement, and hope for new vistas of enterprise and research. However, the practical uses of balloons for travel did not come to fruition. Instead, the balloon served as a vehicle for daring aeronauts who fearlessly pushed the boundaries of human enterprise, sometimes with tragic consequences. Despite the balloon's limited usefulness, Marion shows how its invention had a profound impact on the history of human enterprise and scientific achievement.