  We have begun a program of high altitude ballooning at the Indian Institute
of Astrophysics, Bangalore. Recent advances in balloons as well as in
electronics have made possible scientific payloads at costs accessible to
university departments. The primary purpose of this activity is to test
low-cost ultraviolet (UV) payloads for eventual space flight, but to also
explore phenomena occurring in the upper atmosphere, including sprites and
meteorite impacts, using balloon-borne payloads. This paper discusses the
results of three tethered balloon experiments carried out at the CREST campus
of IIA, Hosakote and our plans for the future. We also describe the stages of
payload development for these experiments.
