Balloon experiments are an economically feasible method of conducting observations in astronomy that are not possible from the ground .
The astronomical payload may include a telescope , a detector , and a pointing/stabilization system .
Determining the attitude of the payload is of primary importance in such applications , to accurately point the detector/telescope to the desired direction .
This is especially important in generally unstable lightweight balloon flights .
However , the conditions at float altitudes , which can be reached by zero pressure balloons , could be more stable , enabling accurate pointings .
We have used the Inertial Measurement Unit ( IMU ) , placed on a stratospheric zero pressure balloon , to observe 3-axis motion of a balloon payload over a flight time of \sim 4.5 hours , from launch to the float altitude of 31.2 km .
The balloon was launched under nominal atmospheric conditions on May 8th 2016 from a Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Balloon Facility , Hyderabad .