Kuwaiti Reaches for the Stars and Invents 'Space Balloon'

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Kuwait Times. Published Date: May 21, 2011. By Nawara Fattahova, Staff Writer.


KUWAIT: Ahmad Al-Romeadheen (28), now studying aeronautical and space technology engineering in the US, has pioneered a new invention - the space balloon. The homemade spaceship, equipped with a camera was launched into space on April 17, 2011 when Ahmad drove 320 km north from Los Angeles to a farm on the outskirts of California for his invention to 'lift off' and take the four hour journey into the galaxy.

To prove his invention reached space, the camera took photos of the galactic black sky in an otherwise sunny Californian day. Once the descent was complete, the space balloon landed 100 km east of the original launching site. Ahmed picked up the spaceship and viewed the images on the camera and found the project to be a complete success. The space balloon reached 30 000 meters above sea level and even photographed the earth's curvature.


At this height, a human need a spacesuit due to the lack of atmospheric pressure. According to Ahmad Al-Romeadheen the space balloon reached an altitude higher than any civilian or military aircraft. Ahmad believes that launching the balloon would have been more complicated in Kuwait due to the close borders with other Gulf states.

He said "This project can be done in Kuwait, but maybe with the help of government because the balloon might drift outside Kuwait. The drift can reach sometime up to 200 km or more depending in the weather, which will make the balloon drift outside Kuwait borders. If the weather is calm and nice that day, there is a chance for the balloon not to leave the border,

The research phase of the balloon took around six months for data gathering, redesigning, and recalculating on paper and then an additional three nights with minimal sleep to construct the spaceship. "This simple design can be used by scientists of many fields such as astronomy and meteorology and astrophysics to get scientific measurements of the atmosphere, and near space environment and to further understand what goes on beyond earth." Ahmad said.

Ahmed believes the balloons robust design has been the key to its success. He said "The balloon needs to be made so it explodes eventually so it can be retrieved in the ground. However, it should be strong enough to last few hours until the balloon reaches the needed height." Not wanting to take complete recognition for the invention, Ahmad informs that the idea has been around since 1783 and his design is just a modernisation of the product with some additional modifications. Ahmad wanted to make sure that the price to construct the balloon was affordable on a student budget but did not compromise on its performance.

Space is the final frontier in human explorations, I simply wanted to part of this. I also wanted to show to the world, and most importantly to Kuwaiti people back home, that our country is capable of producing scientists and engineers that can enter the space race." He said. Modest of his achievement in being the first person of Kuwaiti origin to reach space, Ahmad credits the help of the Kuwaiti government and his family that gave him the opportunity to study abroad to create this invention.

I would like to thank everyone who helped me and encouraged me since I was a little boy. I could have not done this without the encouragement I received from my parents, brothers, sister, friends and the scientific club of Kuwait and H.H. the Amir." He said. Ahmad dedicates his achievement to his parents for their 30th anniversary, the Scientific Club of Kuwait and H.H. the Amir he concluded.

According to Ahmad this is just the first step of a very long journey. Since his childhood he has fostered a love for science and space exploration by spending countless days and nights observing the sky in the Kuwaiti desert. He believes this helped him gain a better understanding of the planets, stars and solar system and develop a passion for astrology.

As an adult, Ahmad has had experience in the astronomy department with Al Aijery observatory, the planetarium, and helped coordinate and host lectures on astronomy in Kuwait and also photographed the Nova explosion in 2008. One of his dreams is to be the first person of Gulf heritage to walk on the moon. "I am looking forward to where this journey will take me. The sky's the limit and anything is possible in this life" he concluded.