ABOUT THE BOOK

The Montgolfier hot-air balloon, a magnificent blue orb with dashes of gold, decorated with signs of the zodiac and multiple suns, was unveiled before King Louis XVI of France and his court at the royal palace of Versailles in September 1793.

The wonder of its age – an invention of significance, as it promised military advantage over France’s old enemy, England – was the pride of the nation. Not only were the King and his courtiers in attendance, but so were the ‘common people’, there to witness a scientific and technological marvel.

Some say the balloon’s passengers were chosen to replace the Montgolfier brothers, as the inaugural flight was seen as too dangerous to risk its brilliant inventors’ lives. Others say that the passengers were selected on scientific grounds: a bird that could fly, a bird that could not, and an animal never expected to leave the security of terra firma.

Amazing as it might sound, implausible as it may appear, on that bright autumnal day, as the balloon was untethered and began its ascent into the sky, a duck, a rooster and a sheep became the first creatures sent to the heavens by man – and therefore became the first aeronauts.

Neal Jackson, winner of The Big Idea Competition. London, 2017.