High altitude structures and related methods

A high altitude structure comprising:

• an elongated structure couplable to the surface of the Earth and extendable skyward from the surface of the Earth, the elongated structure being at least partially supportable by buoyancy effects, the elongated structure including at least one lumen, the at least one lumen being configured to transport at least one material and to vent the at least one material to the atmosphere;
• a gas having a density that is less dense than that of the atmosphere outside of the elongated structure, the gas being disposed in one or more voids of the elongated structure;
• and
• an introducer configured to provide the gas into the one or more voids.

A high altitude structure comprising:

• an elongated member formed of at least a first material and coupled to the surface of the Earth at at least one end of the elongated member;
• at least one carrier coupled to the elongated member and at least partially supporting the elongated member in a substantially upright orientation to a substantially high altitude;
• and
• a payload coupled to the elongated member and being held aloft by the elongated member.

A high altitude structure comprising:

• an elongated member formed of at least a first material, the elongated member being coupled to the surface of the Earth;
• a buoyancy structure coupled to the elongated member and supporting the elongated member in a substantially upright orientation reaching to a substantially high altitude;
• and
• a platform coupled to the elongated member and being held aloft by the elongated member.