{"id":142775,"date":"2015-07-13T19:25:39","date_gmt":"2015-07-13T23:25:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-366523"},"modified":"2024-01-08T09:26:26","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T14:26:26","slug":"types-of-balloons","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/types-of-balloons\/","title":{"rendered":"Types of Scientific Balloons"},"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 usa-current\"><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\tTypes of Scientific Balloons\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\tThe two types of balloons currently used by the NASA Balloon Flight program are zero-pressure and super-pressure.\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\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.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\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.jpeg 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.jpeg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.jpeg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.jpeg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.jpeg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.jpeg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.jpeg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.jpeg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.jpeg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.jpeg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/csbf1364_1.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<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-oversized-text width-full maxw-full padding-y-10 padding-x-4 bg-spacesuit-white hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-oversized-text\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block flex-align-center padding-x-0 padding-y-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-10 desktop:grid-col-9\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-oversized-text-content display-120 line-height-sm\">Scientific balloons can lift up to <strong>8,000 pound<\/strong> payloads!<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-3\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>NASA\u2019s Balloon Program Office<\/strong> uses multiple types of balloons to lift scientific payloads into the atmosphere. The Balloon Program Office supports numerous space and Earth science research missions, and different balloons may be more beneficial to different payloads. The two types of balloons currently used by the NASA Balloon Flight program are zero-pressure and super-pressure. Though either balloon can be used for any flight type, zero-pressure balloons typically are used for short flights, whereas a super pressure balloon is required for an extended flight. The design of a zero-pressure balloon does not allow for extended flights except during the summer in the polar regions. Various balloon sizes with corresponding capabilities are available.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-full\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1566\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"An infographic on NASA Scientific Balloons. "For several decades, NASA's Scientific Balloon Program, managed by Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, has expertiv delivered low-cost near space access for scientific experiments and technology tests that contribute to our Understanding of the Earth. the solar system, and the universe."\" 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\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png 2278w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png?resize=300,229 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png?resize=768,587 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png?resize=1024,783 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png?resize=1536,1175 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png?resize=2048,1566 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png?resize=400,306 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png?resize=600,459 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png?resize=900,688 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png?resize=1200,918 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/nasa-scientific-balloon-facts.png?resize=2000,1529 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Facts about NASA Scientific Balloons.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Zero-Pressure Balloons<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These balloons are open at the bottom and have open ducts hanging from the sides to allow gas to escape and to prevent the pressure inside the balloon from building up during gas expansion as the balloon rises above Earth\u2019s surface. The duration of this type of balloon is limited because of gas loss, mostly due to the day\/night cycling of the balloon.<br>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Super-Pressure Balloons <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">(ULDB \u2013 Pumpkin)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These ultra-long distance balloons, or ULDBs, are completely sealed with no open ducts. Gas cannot escape the balloon and pressure builds up as the gas expands. Because gas loss is minimized in this balloon, super-pressure balloons can fly for longer durations than zero-pressure balloons. Because of their shape, they are called the Pumpkin. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both types of balloons are made of thin plastic film, called polyethylene. The thickness is similar to that of plastic sandwich wrap. The most common size of NASA\u2019s balloons is 40 million cubic feet, or a volume equivalent to more than 195 Goodyear blimps (a Goodyear Blimp measures 202,700 ft). When fully inflated, a football stadium could fit inside the balloon. Technicians inflate the balloons using helium gas. The balloons then float at altitudes around 120,000 feet, or more than twice as high as commercial airplanes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A balloon in free-flight may encounter significant operational restrictions across a range of projected mission types.<br><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-oversized-text width-full maxw-full padding-y-10 padding-x-4 bg-carbon-90 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-oversized-text\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block flex-align-center padding-x-0 padding-y-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-10 desktop:grid-col-9\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-oversized-text-content display-120 line-height-sm\">You can fit <strong>195 Goodyear Blimps<\/strong> inside a Zero-Pressure Balloon!<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-3\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>       <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These restrictions may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(a) need to avoid high population centers for safety reasons for long duration missions;<br>(b) need to avoid regions restricted for geopolitical reasons;<br>(c) desired over flight of a specific region;<br>(d) desire to recover payload in acceptable areas; and,<br>(e) desire to enable new science, particularly for Earth Science.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"901\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Chart outlining difference scientific balloon types.\" 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\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png 3750w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png?resize=300,132 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png?resize=768,338 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png?resize=1024,451 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png?resize=1536,676 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png?resize=2048,901 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png?resize=400,176 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png?resize=600,264 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png?resize=900,396 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png?resize=1200,528 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/balloontypes.png?resize=2000,880 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Planetary Ballooning<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p> The Balloon Program in collaboration with other NASA centers and private industry continued to investigate the feasibility of balloon missions on other planets and space bodies. Current NASA missions of interest are targeted for Mars, Venus and Titan. Balloons will enable in-situ measurements at different altitudes that are currently not feasible with other platforms such as satellites and rovers.<\/p>\n\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 From Wallops<\/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\/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\/wallopsrange\/\" 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 Range<\/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\/goddard\/\" 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>Goddard Space Flight 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=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/goddard-center.jpg?w=1024\" 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\/2015\/03\/goddard-center.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/goddard-center.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/goddard-center.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/goddard-center.jpg?resize=400,266 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/goddard-center.jpg?resize=600,399 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/goddard-center.jpg?resize=900,599 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/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\/\" 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<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA\u2019s Balloon Program Office uses multiple types of balloons to lift scientific payloads into the atmosphere. The Balloon Program Office supports numerous space and Earth science research missions, and different balloons may be more beneficial to different payloads. The two types of balloons currently used by the NASA Balloon Flight program are zero-pressure and super-pressure. [...]<\/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":"Types of Scientific Balloons","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/types-of-balloons\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/types-of-balloons\/"},"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":"2015-07-13T23:25:39Z","datePublished":"2015-07-13T23:25:39Z","dateModified":"2024-01-08T14:26:26Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Types of Scientific Balloons\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/types-of-balloons\/\" \/>\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=\"2015-07-13T23:25:39Z\" \/>\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":3,"time_ago":"9 years","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\/142775"}],"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":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/142775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":589129,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/142775\/revisions\/589129"}],"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=142775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142775"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=142775"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=142775"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=142775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}