NASA Successfully Launches Super Pressure Balloon (Download PDF)

NASA successfully launched Super pressure balloon from Wanaka Airport, New Zealand. A mission designed to run 100 or more days floating at 110, 000 feet (33.5 km) about the globe in the southern hemisphere’s mid-latitude band. While validating the super pressure balloon technology is the main flight objective, the International Extreme Universe Space Observatory on a Super Pressure Balloon (EUSO-SPB) payload is flying as a mission of opportunity.

Highlights:

• The EUSO-SPB is designed to detect high-energy cosmic rays originating from outside our galaxy as they penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere
• These high-energy particles enter the atmosphere; they interact with nitrogen molecules in the air and create UV fluorescence light.
• The International Extreme Universe Space Observatory on a super pressure balloon (EUSO - SPB) payload is flying as a mission of opportunity
• Flying on the payload is a poppy in celebration of Anzac day, a national day of remembrance in New Zealand and Australia.
• The balloon travels around the Earth
• It may be visible from the ground particularly at sunrise and sunset in the southern hemisphere’s mid – latitudes
• It’s expected to circle the planet two or three times.

• NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas, provides

  • Mission planning,
  • Engineering services and field operations
• At a relatively low cost, NASA heavy-lift balloons have been critical launch vehicles for testing

About Super Pressure Balloon

• The balloon was developed together by NASA and Columbia Science Balloon Facility teams
• Super – pressure Balloons flow chart

• Material use in balloon

• Map showing the balloon’s real-time location

• Average Float Altitude Variation for 9 day for Super pressure Ballon