A hot-air balloon is piloted above the White Sands

A hot-air balloon is piloted above the White Sands National Monument, N.M., during the 21st annual White Sands Balloon Invitational Sept. 16. Balloonists came from Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, California, Texas and New Mexico for the two-day event, at which more than 50 balloons launched from both the balloon park in Alamogordo, N.M., and the White Sands National Monument. The event committee obtained a permit for balloons to fly over the monument, as normally private aircraft are not allowed in the airspace. Members of Team Holloman volunteered at the event.