NASA's balloon mission charts new course for atmospheric research
NASA concluded a balloon mission in which a super-pressure balloon circumnavigated the Earth over the southern hemisphere in just a few days. This is an important step in testing this technology.
NASA completed a mission in which a super-pressure balloon circled the Earth in 16 days. Starting from Wānaka, New Zealand, the balloon reached an altitude of approximately 32 kilometres within two hours. NASA noted in their announcement that this demonstrates the balloon's ability to maintain stability at very high altitudes around the clock.
Balloons will be used for research and testing missions
The mission aimed to test the technology of super-pressure balloons, which can be used in future scientific missions. These balloons are more economical than rockets because they allow for long-term data collection without the need for complex propulsion systems.
The mission ended earlier than planned due to the detection of a small leak that was affecting the balloon's altitude. During the day, the balloon maintained stability, but at night, especially over colder areas, its altitude dropped to around 18 kilometres. Ultimately, the balloon was brought down to a designated zone in the Pacific Ocean, where its 2,000-kg payload acted like an anchor, minimizing environmental impact.
Gabriel Garde, who leads NASA's Balloon Program Office, acknowledged that while retrieving the equipment was the ideal outcome, they successfully secured all the data from the mission.
During the flight, the balloon carried a scientific instrument called the High-altitude Interferometer WIND experiment (HIWIND), which collected data on atmospheric winds. This information helps scientists better predict changes in the ionosphere, which is important for GPS and radio communication.
