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Glam Monitor

Can you make a blimp with vacuum?

Author

Daniel Foster

Updated on May 11, 2026

But no. Instead here on Earth, a theoretical vacuum airship could lift 1.28 grams per liter of evacuated space, a 14% boost over helium, owing to the density of air. which is over 3 times the buckling pressure of diamond.

Is a vacuum airship possible?

A vacuum airship made of a homogenous material cannot withstand the atmospheric pressure on Earth for any material humans have yet discovered, which can be proven using the critical buckling load of a sphere.

Is it possible to make a vacuum balloon?

As it is well known, a vacuum balloon using the materials we have at our disposal is not possible, because of the sheer force they have to resist from the air outside.

Can a vacuum create lift?

Vacuum airships would replace the helium gas with a near-vacuum environment. Having no mass, the density of this body would be near to 0.00 g/l, which would theoretically be able to provide the full lift potential of displaced air, so every liter of vacuum could lift 1.28 g.

Is a vacuum more buoyant than helium?

If you could somehow fill a 1-liter bottle with a vacuum, it would float even better. A perfect vacuum weighs zero grams, so a liter of perfect vacuum weighs 0.18 grams less than a liter of helium.

30 related questions found

What happens when you put a balloon in a vacuum?

Explanation: A partially inflated balloon is placed in a vacuum chamber. It expands to more than double its initial size as the pressure in the chamber decreases.

Will a vacuum tube float?

So its average density be quite low. So it will float. It will actually float better than if you filled it with hydrogen or helium which, although they are lighter than air, they still have some mass to them, more than the mass of the vacuum which is nothing at all.

Can a vacuum balloon float?

An air-buoyant vacuum vessel (aka a vacuum balloon) would float in air by the same principles as a helium weather balloon or blimp, but be filled with "nothing" (i.e. vacuum) instead of helium.

How do vacuum pumps work?

Vacuum pumps essentially move gas molecules from one region to the next to create a vacuum by changing high and low-pressure states. As molecules are removed from the vacuum space, it becomes exponentially harder to remove additional ones, thus increasing the vacuum power required.

How high could a vacuum balloon go?

What altitude does that correspond to? A ballpark scale height of 8 km gives 46 kilometers. The 1976 NASA Standard Atmosphere gives about 40 kilometer. NASA Science balloons like this one typically go to about 30 to 35 kilometers.

Can a blimp go to space?

The atmosphere as a ladder to space.

Flying an airship directly from the ground to orbit is not practical. An airship large enough to reach orbit would not survive the winds near the surface of the Earth. Conversely, an airship that could fly from the ground to upper atmosphere would not be light enough to reach space.

How much lift does a vacuum?

A canister type of vacuum cleaner with poor suction typically will measure around 70" of water lift while the most powerful ones measure around 103" of water lift. As you can see, it really isn't such a marvel that an average vacuum cleaner can lift an adult person.

Is vacuum lighter than hydrogen?

Vacuum weighs infinatly less the hydrogen. With good enough weight to mass displacement you could deliver actual payload to space instead of just an advertisment.

What happens if you vacuum water?

Liquids: Never vacuum up water or any other type of liquid with your vacuum cleaner. Mixing water with electricity is a recipe for disaster. At best, you would need vacuum cleaner repair; at worst, you could electrocute yourself.

What happens if you vacuum chamber water?

In a vacuum chamber, the pressure can be extremely low. So low, in fact, that water can actually boil at room temperature. So, if you put some water in a high-vacuum chamber you will see it boil.

Is space a vacuum?

By definition, a vacuum is devoid of matter. Space is almost an absolute vacuum, not because of suction but because it's nearly empty.

What happens when you put a marshmallow in a vacuum chamber?

By putting marshmallows in a jar or bottle and using the vacuum pump, you can remove gas around the marshmallows. The gas in the bubbles keeps pushing outward as less and less gas is available around the marshmallows to push back. The gas bubbles expand and the marshmallow puffs up.

Why does water boil in a vacuum?

Water Boiling in a Vacuum at Room Temperature

Some of the most energetic water molecules are leaving (evaporating), but this process is quite slow. When we remove the air pressure, the most energetic water molecules become water vapor gas.

Why does a balloon get bigger in a vacuum?

The pressure inside of the latex balloon is greater than the atmospheric pressure, and the latex balloon with start to expand, until it reaches equilibrium.

How does weight change in a vacuum?

Re: Weight In a Vacuum !

The upward force, due to Archimedes and his law, will decrease because the density of the surrounding fluid (i.e. air) decreases.

How high could airships go?

Airships can operate below 20,000 and above 60,000 feet

2 But well below 350,000 feet. 3 Wind speed is different at different heights. 4 The jet stream can exist between 25,000 feet and 40,000 feet (7.6 to 12 km) with winds that can exceed 130 knots. been known to rise to 50,000 feet.

Why do people let balloons go when someone dies?

Release balloons, doves, butterflies, or paper lanterns – Releasing a balloon or lantern is a ritual that symbolizes releasing a lost loved one or sending loving thoughts to their spirit.

Is it illegal to release balloons?

Yes, we know under current legislation, balloon releases are legal, and we can only advise of the risks and dangers. We have asked the government to ban the release of Sky Lanterns, Foil Balloons and Any Balloon with Ribbons or Plastic Attached, and we will continue to press for this regulation.