{"id":251524,"date":"2023-03-22T09:06:48","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T13:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=topic&p=251524"},"modified":"2024-01-12T18:07:44","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T23:07:44","slug":"overview","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientific Balloons Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\"><div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>Scientific Balloons<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 \"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\"><nav><ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\"><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/\">Home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/overview\/\">Overview<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/types-of-balloons\/\">Balloon Types<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/balloon-launch-locations\/\">Launch Locations<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/balloons-glossary\/\">Glossary<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/faqs\/\">FAQ<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/mediaresources\/\">Media Resources<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t<div class=\"padding-0 bg-spacesuit-white wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-page-intro hds-page-intro-banner width-full maxw-full padding-0 hds-cover-wrapper minh-tablet\">\n\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto margin-bottom-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-top-9 padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"page-heading-md line-height-sm color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tScientific Balloons Overview \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA\u2019s Balloon Program Office uses multiple types of balloons to lift scientific payloads into the atmosphere.\u00a0\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A crane is leading a scientific balloon before launch. The balloon is to the right, and appears an a plastic, upside down teardrop. A tube attached to the top of the balloon leads down to the ground where a number of personnel are holding it. To the left, a crane holding a large payload structure with many solar panels is attached to the end of the balloon.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Since its establishment more than 30 years ago, the NASA Balloon Program has provided high-altitude scientific balloon platforms for scientific and technological investigations, including fundamental scientific discoveries that contribute to our understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Balloons have been used for decades to conduct scientific studies. They can be launched from locations across the globe and are a low-cost method to carry payloads with instruments that conduct scientific observations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Mission Statement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary objective of the NASA Balloon Program is to provide high altitude scientific balloon platforms for scientific and technological investigations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These investigations include fundamental scientific discoveries that contribute to our understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe. Scientific balloons also provide a platform for the demonstration of promising new instrument and spacecraft technologies that enable or enhance the objectives for the Science Mission Directorate Strategic Plan.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-link-list bg-spacesuit-white padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-featured-link-list\">\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\tScientific Balloon Missions\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/8759445992_f6fcd4396e_o.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Three people hold onto a large balloon against the Antarctic landscape\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 24% 50%; object-position: 24% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/8759445992_f6fcd4396e_o.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/8759445992_f6fcd4396e_o.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/8759445992_f6fcd4396e_o.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/8759445992_f6fcd4396e_o.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">BARREL<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black\">Balloon Array for Radiation-belt Relativistic Electron Losses was a series of balloon campaigns to study Earth's radiation belts, designed to supplement measurements from NASA\u2019s Van Allen Probes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/barrel\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/nasa-blocks\/assets\/images\/spacex-orbit.jpg\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">GUSTO<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black\">Galactic\/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory is a scientific balloon mission that will measure emissions from the interstellar medium, the material between stars. This data will help scientists determine the life cycle of interstellar gas in our Milky Way galaxy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/gusto\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" rel=\"noopener\">\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-image-carousel grid-container grid-container-block padding-top-8 padding-bottom-8 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-image-carousel\">\t\t<div class=\"hds-carousel-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image-carousel-slider margin-0\" id=\"image-carousel-slider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-block width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"A scientific balloon being prepared for launch on a snowy landscape. The balloon is a clear plastic in the shape of an upside down tear drop. To the right is a large crane holding a square payload. The ground is completely covered in snow, and a snow-covered mountain is seen in the distance. The sky is bright blue with wispy clouds.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg 4032w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg?resize=2048,1536 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/balloons-mcmurdo.jpeg?resize=2000,1500 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Boron And Carbon Cosmic rays in the Upper Stratosphere (BACCUS) payload is being prepared for launch in McMurdo Station, Antartica. <\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-block width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/img_3448.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"X-Calibur readies for flight\" style=\"transform: scale(1.02); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/img_3448.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/img_3448.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/img_3448.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/img_3448.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/img_3448.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/img_3448.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/img_3448.jpg?resize=900,675 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility technicians conduct a compatibility test Sept. 6 on the 25-foot X-Calibur payload, which is set to launch in September on a 40-million-cubic-foot NASA scientific balloon from the agency\u2019s launch site at Fort Sumner, N.M.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-block width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nz3.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Super Pressure Balloon launches\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nz3.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nz3.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nz3.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nz3.jpg?resize=1024,682 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nz3.jpg?resize=400,266 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nz3.jpg?resize=600,399 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/nz3.jpg?resize=900,599 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">A NASA super pressure balloon takes to the skies on a potentially record-breaking, around-the-world flight, from Wanaka, New Zealand.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-block width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sunrise.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Technicians attach the Sunrise payload to its balloon\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sunrise.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sunrise.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sunrise.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sunrise.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sunrise.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sunrise.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sunrise.jpg?resize=900,600 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Technicians attach the Sunrise payload to its balloon and parachute. The giant crane holds the gondola plus telescope payload steady until the balloon inflates and rises to an altitude sufficient to lift the payload from the crane. This image was taken at the launch site in Kiruna, Sweden June 2009.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-block width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"799\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweden1.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"A super pressure balloon being readied for launch\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweden1.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweden1.jpg?resize=300,234 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweden1.jpg?resize=768,599 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweden1.jpg?resize=1024,799 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweden1.jpg?resize=400,312 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweden1.jpg?resize=600,468 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/sweden1.jpg?resize=900,702 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">A super pressure balloon is being readied for launch.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-carousel-nav display-flex margin-left-auto margin-right-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-prev\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M3.5,4.5l3.7-3.6L6.3,0L1.8,4.5L6.3,9l0.9-0.9L3.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-next margin-right-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M5.5,4.5L1.8,8.1L2.7,9l4.5-4.5L2.7,0L1.8,0.9L5.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wallops\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Wallops Flight Facility<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"908\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PJH_9548-Web.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PJH_9548-Web.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PJH_9548-Web.jpg?resize=300,177 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PJH_9548-Web.jpg?resize=768,454 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PJH_9548-Web.jpg?resize=1024,605 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PJH_9548-Web.jpg?resize=1536,908 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PJH_9548-Web.jpg?resize=400,236 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PJH_9548-Web.jpg?resize=600,355 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PJH_9548-Web.jpg?resize=900,532 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PJH_9548-Web.jpg?resize=1200,709 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Scientific Balloons<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/mediaresources\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Scientific Balloons Media Resources<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Media Resources for NASA's Scientific Balloons Program.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wallops\/visitor-center\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg 5184w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/globallaunchchallenge16july2019.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since its establishment more than 30 years ago, the NASA Balloon Program has provided high-altitude scientific balloon platforms for scientific and technological investigations, including fundamental scientific discoveries that contribute to our understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe. Balloons have been used for decades to conduct scientific studies. They can be launched […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":179226,"parent":179139,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[2872],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[3927],"coauthors":[10403,10199],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"Scientific Balloons Overview","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/overview\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/overview\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jamie Adkins"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Sarah Roth"}],"creator":["Jamie Adkins","Sarah Roth"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Centers & Facilities","Wallops Flight Facility"],"dateCreated":"2023-03-22T13:06:48Z","datePublished":"2023-03-22T13:06:48Z","dateModified":"2024-01-12T23:07:44Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Scientific Balloons Overview\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/overview\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-03-22T13:06:48Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities,Wallops Flight Facility\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Jamie Adkins\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Sarah Roth\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":1,"time_ago":"1 year","featured_image":{"id":179226,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/6launch.jpeg","title":"Super Pressure Balloon Launch from Wanaka, New Zealand","alt":"A crane is leading a scientific balloon before launch. The balloon is to the right, and appears an a plastic, upside down teardrop. A tube attached to the top of the balloon leads down to the ground where a number of personnel are holding it. To the left, a crane holding a large payload structure with many solar panels is attached to the end of the balloon.","caption":"NASA is returning to Wanaka, New Zealand, for another Super Pressure Balloon (SPB) launch campaign in 2017. Pictured here, the 18.8 million-cubic-foot SPB prepares fro lift-off from Wanaka Airport in 2016."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/251524"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/topic"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/118"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/251524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":593530,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/251524\/revisions\/593530"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/179139"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/179226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=251524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=251524"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=251524"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=251524"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=251524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}