NASA's balloon mission: A 16‑day global journey concludes
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 20 miles within two hours. "This is evidence that the balloon can remain stable at extreme altitudes both day and night," NASA stated in its announcement.
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 long-term data collection without complex propulsion systems.
The mission ended earlier than planned due to detecting a small leak affecting the balloon's altitude. During the day, the balloon maintained stability, but at night, especially over colder areas, its altitude dropped to as low as 11 miles. Ultimately, the balloon was brought down to a designated zone in the Pacific Ocean, where its 4,400-pound payload acted as an anchor, minimizing environmental impact.
"Although we would have preferred to recover the equipment, we managed to ensure the transmission of all data," said Gabriel Garde, head of NASA's Balloon Program Office, in a statement.
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.
