“Stratospheric balloon company Sceye recently completed a feat that heralds the increased use of a new layer of the atmosphere for human exploration, the company told Axios exclusively.

Why it matters: The company’s helium-filled balloons can serve as an observation platform that occupies a niche between drones flying at lower altitudes and satellites orbiting above the planet.

This makes them attractive for Earth-observing applications, including climate-related monitoring and research.”

From Axios.