Lift Table for Helium and Hydrogen at Standard Temperatures and Pressures
(1,000 cubic meter envelope)
Altitude
(feet MSL)
Pressure
(in. Hg)
Air Temperature
(°F)
Gross Lift
(Helium)
Gross Lift
(Hydrogen)
0 29.92 59.00 2,329.35 2,513.37
1,000 28.86 55.43 2,262.40 2,441.13
2,000 27.82 51.87 2,196.05 2,369.54
3,000 26.82 48.30 2,131.99 2,300.42
4,000 25.84 44.74 2,068.58 2,232.00
5,000 24.90 41.17 2,007.54 2,166.14
6,000 23.98 37.61 1,947.21 2,101.03
7,000 23.09 34.05 1,888.46 2,037.64
8,000 22.23 30.48 1,831.36 1,976.04
9,000 21.39 26.92 1,775.05 1,915.28
10,000 20.58 23.36 1,720.42 1,856.33
11,000 19.80 19.79 1,667.54 1,799.27
12,000 19.03 16.23 1,614.68 1,742.24
13,000 18.30 12.67 1,564.44 1,688.03
14,000 17.58 9.11 1,514.30 1,633.93
15,000 16.89 5.55 1,466.00 1,581.81
16,000 16.22 1.99 1,418.70 1,530.78
17,000 15.58 –1.58 1,373.34 1,481.83
18,000 14.95 –5.14 1,328.13 1,433.05
19,000 14.35 –8.70 1,284.89 1,386.39
20,000 13.76 –12.25 1,241.84 1,339.94
21,000 13.20 –15.81 1,200.85 1,295.72
22,000 12.65 –19.37 1,160.12 1,251.77
23,000 12.12 –22.93 1,120.57 1,209.10
24,000 11.61 –26.49 1,082.24 1,167.74
25,000 11.12 –30.05 1,045.15 1,127.72
1. Pressures and Temperatures taken from U. S. Standard Atmosphere Supplements, 1966, ESSA,
NASA, USAF; Table 5.2, Geometric Altitudes, English Units
2. Tables assume no effects due to superheating or impurities in lifting gas supply.
3. Entire volume is assumed to be completely filled with lifting gas as would normally be the case on
initial ascent.
4. For all descending altitudes, or for partially full envelopes, use the gross lift shown for the altitude at
which the envelope would be completely full. This is called the pressure altitude and is equal to the
maximum altitude achieved during the flight, if the envelope was full at that altitude. Gross lift does
NOT change as balloon descends unless additional lifting gas is lost.
Helium density: 0.01056 pounds/cubic foot at STP
Hydrogen density: 0.00535 pounds/cubic foot at STP
Air density: 0.07651 pounds/cubic foot at STP
Envelope volume: 1,000 cubic meters (35,320 cu. ft.) Notes