If you're afraid of heights (or easily nauseated), this story might not be for you. On August 23rd, a group of amateur radio enthusiasts in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, took a high-definition video camera to new heights, literally. Reaching 107,145 feet with the help of a hydrogen balloon, this hi-def footage features some amazing views from the edge of outer space.

According to Gizmodo, the BEAR-4 project resulted in the first amateur footage captured at such an elevation. These amateur engineers housed a Canon Vixia-HF camcorder inside some foam blocks. Then, they attached the unit to an 1,800-gram balloon and launched it into the sky. The flight lasted about four hours, but thankfully, the highlights have been edited into an incredible (and much shorter) 10-minute clip (after the break).


This isn't the first time a few smart folks launched a camera high in the sky, but the BEAR-4 shots are certainly the most impressive. Jaw-dropping is the only way to describe the resulting footage. (If you listen closely, you'll even hear the balloon burst.) [From: BEAR-4 via: Gizmodo]