China launched a rocket into space from a balloon.

Last Sunday, the rocket was lifted into the upper atmosphere for the first time in a large helium balloon from Lenghu in northwest China's Qinghai province. On command from the Earth, the rocket, while gaining a given height, was launched from the ball. Launching launch vehicles not from the Earth, but from the atmosphere saves fuel and reduces cost. The greatest savings can be achieved by launching a rocket from a balloon.