242 years ago today, on September 19, 1783 (August 23, 1783 lunar calendar), the Montgolfier brothers carried out a balloon launch experiment at the Palace of Versailles. September 19, 1783 The Ball Ride (Claude-Louis Desrais (1746-1816)) On September 19, 1783, in the park of the Palace of Versailles, the Montgolfier brothers carried out an animal launch experiment in front of Louis XVI. The balloon carried a sheep, a duck and a rooster. The three animals were kept in a round basket, and then they attached the basket to the balloon with ropes. After the balloon was released, it rose to a height of about 500 meters, lasted 8 minutes in the air and flew about 3,500 meters. When the balloon landed, the three animals were safe and sound: the experiment proved that liftoff did not lead to death. To reward it, the sheep in the balloon was sent to the king's zoo. Comments: Another pioneering feat of human longing to fly!