NASA's balloon mission circles earth in record time
NASA concluded a balloon mission in which a super-pressure balloon circumnavigated the Earth over the southern hemisphere within only a few days. This marks an important step in testing this innovative technology.
NASA completed a mission in which a super-pressure balloon circled the Earth in 16 days. Launching from Wānaka, New Zealand, the balloon reached an altitude of approximately 32 kilometres within two hours. "This demonstrates that the balloon can remain stable at extreme altitudes both day and night," NASA stated in its announcement.
Balloons to be used for research and testing missions
The mission sought to test the technology of super-pressure balloons, which can be utilised in future scientific missions. These balloons are more economical than rockets, enabling long-term data collection without the need for complex propulsion systems.
The mission concluded earlier than planned due to the detection of a small leak affecting the balloon's altitude. During the day, the balloon maintained stability, but at night, particularly over colder areas, its altitude decreased to roughly 18 kilometres. Ultimately, the balloon was retrieved in a designated zone of the Pacific Ocean, with its 2,000-kilogram payload acting like an anchor to minimise environmental impact.
Gabriel Garde, who leads NASA's Balloon Programme Office, emphasised that while recovering the equipment would have been preferable, they successfully secured the complete data transmission.
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, crucial for GPS and radio communication.
