{"id":190668,"date":"2023-02-24T11:19:44","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T16:19:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=topic&p=190668"},"modified":"2023-06-30T10:27:13","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T14:27:13","slug":"balloons-glossary","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/balloons-glossary\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientific Balloons Glossary"},"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 usa-current\"><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 Glossary\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<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>BPO: Balloon Program Office<\/strong>\u00a0– Based at Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia, the NASA office in charge of scientific ballooning research and development for the agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Conventional ballooning<\/strong> \u2013 Missions that fly for short periods, from hours to a day or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CSBF: Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility<\/strong> – a NASA-sponsored facility in Palestine, Texas, which launches many of the agency’s large, unmanned, high-altitude research balloons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flight ladder<\/strong> \u2013 Part of the flight train. It is a set of steel cables with cross braces that is placed above the payload and below the parachute. It is used to provide space between the balloon and the payload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flight termination<\/strong> \u2013 At the end of a flight when the objectives of the mission have been met, the decision to end or \u201cterminate\u201d is made. When the balloon system is over an area that is safe for ending the flight, a command is sent to the balloon system to separate the payload from the balloon. The payload has a parachute attached to it. The payload floats on the parachute to the ground. When the payload and parachute system separates from the balloon, a large hole is ripped in the balloon and the helium escapes. The balloon then falls back down to Earth. Both the balloon and the payload are recovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Flight train <\/strong>– Part of the balloon made up of the parachute and ladder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>HASP: High Altitude Student Platform<\/strong> – The HASP platform can support eight small payloads of ~3 kg weight and four large payloads of ~20 kg weight (i.e. 12 experiment \u201cseats\u201d). A standard interface is provided for each student payload that includes power, serial telemetry, discrete commands and analog output. <em><a href=\"http:\/\/sites.wff.nasa.gov\/code820\/docs\/outreach\/High%20Altitude%20Student%20Platform.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">More about HASP<\/a><\/em>.<br>The HASP project has been successful in providing access to near-space for science and engineering payloads developed by undergraduate and graduate students from across the country. <em><a href=\"http:\/\/sites.wff.nasa.gov\/code820\/docs\/flight%20education%20program%20hasp.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">More about the HASP project<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>LOS: Line of sight communication<\/strong> \u2013 A direct communication link between the balloon support instrument and the ground; it is available when the balloon is still above the horizon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>LDB: Long-duration ballooning<\/strong> \u2013 Missions that use either existing balloons in locations where the balloon is in constant daylight, or will use a new balloon design that is intended to achieve durations of 100 days or longer at mid-latitudes. The long-duration flights in constant daylight are currently flown from Antarctica and Sweden. The super pressure balloon system that may fly up to 100 days is currently under development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Payload<\/strong> \u2013 The science instrument that the balloon lifts to the stratosphere; it could be a telescope or other instrument. Some facts about payloads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Balloon payloads study the origins of the universe, cosmic rays, supernovae, black holes, dark matter, dark energy and other space phenomena. Balloons can also support in situ measurements for Earth and planetary science<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Since the payloads are typically hung under the balloon, the size and dimensions are not too constrained. That is one of the advantages of using balloons for scientific investigations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The science payload can be as heavy as 6,000 lbs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Piggyback payload<\/strong> \u2013 Typically small instruments that fly on another balloon flight. They are typically small innovative instruments and do not require all of the support a full scientific instrument payload may need. They can be added to an existing flight with little added weight or power requirements. It is an advantage that balloon flights can accommodate these small cutting-edge technology development instruments and give them turnaround flight opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Scientific balloon<\/strong> \u2013 Very large inflated structure that carries scientific instruments to the edge of space to conduct scientific investigations. <em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/sites.wff.nasa.gov\/code820\/docs\/outreach\/BPO%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Scientific Balloons Fact Sheet<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SPB: Super-pressure balloon<\/strong> – Made with a non-extensible material and is a closed system to prevent gas release. By the time float altitude is achieved, the free-lift gas has converted into super pressure. Variations in the radiation environment produce changes in the super pressure, but not in the balloon volume, therefore the balloon continues to float at the same density altitude. As long as the balloon is super-pressured, it will continue to float at a constant density altitude. This type of balloon will play an important role in providing inexpensive access to the near-space environment for science and technology. It will offer ultra-long duration missions on the order of 100 days or more at mid-latitudes. SPB will also offer greater stability at float altitude with minimal altitude excursion during the day\/night cycles when compared to that experienced on Zero-Pressure (ZP) balloons. This added stability and extended durations at mid-latitudes will enable new science missions that currently are not feasible with ZP balloons. Therefore, balloon-borne telescopes, operating in the regions of the spectrum – namely X-rays and rays that can’t be studied as effectively at the poles because of the strong background of charged cosmic rays funneled in by Earth’s magnetic field, will be enabled to venture into new science and discovery missions on-board a super pressure balloons. <em><a href=\"http:\/\/sites.wff.nasa.gov\/code820\/docs\/outreach\/The%20Super%20Pressure%20Balloon.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">More about SPBs<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Support instrument<\/strong> \u2013 A critical part for mission success, it has multiple functions; it provides power to the science payload and all vital systems, stores power from solar panels, provides communication to\/from the ground via satellites or line of sight, stores data on board, as well as other important functions. The support instrument can weigh as much as 2,000 lbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ULDB: Ultra-long Duration Balloon<\/strong>– Made of advanced materials and uses a new pumpkin-shaped balloon design to achieve durations of up to 100 days. The super-pressure pumpkin balloon has been designed to increase flight durations up to one hundred days. This new balloon will significantly increase the amount of data that can be collected in one balloon mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WASP: Wallops Arc Second Pointer<\/strong> <strong>– <\/strong>A NASA-provided support system which can point telescopes on balloon gondolas at inertial targets with arc-second accuracy. WASP is intended to be a flexible system that can be used to support a variety of science-provided instruments and sensors to meet specific mission performance requirements. Major components of WASP are reusable which reduces the overall costs to the BPO and to users. <em><a href=\"http:\/\/sites.wff.nasa.gov\/code820\/docs\/outreach\/Wallops%20Arc%20Second%20Pointer.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">More about WASP.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ZP: Zero-pressure balloon<\/strong>\u00a0– Currently the balloons most used for conventional and LDB missions; carries the scientific instrument to a density altitude that is determined by the total mass of the system (suspended mass + balloon mass) divided by the fully inflated balloon volume. The balloon is only partially filled at time of launch and expands to its full volume as the balloon approaches its float altitude. NASA currently uses helium as the lifting gas. Has openings to the atmosphere, called vent ducts, to release the excess gas called free-lift, which provides the lifting force during ascent. The balloon continues to float at its equilibrium-density altitude until there is a change in the radiation environment, such as sunrise\/sunset, upwelling earth flux, etc. At sunset, the gas cools, the volume decreases, and the balloon descends (about 30,000-50,000 feet) to a lower equilibrium altitude based on atmospheric lapse rates and the radiation environment. Altitude can be maintained by the reduction in total system mass through release of ballast, which nominally amounts to about 8 percent per day. Flights thereby are limited by the total available mass that can be used as ballast.<\/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>BPO: Balloon Program Office\u00a0– Based at Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia, the NASA office in charge of scientific ballooning research and development for the agency. Conventional ballooning \u2013 Missions that fly for short periods, from hours to a day or two. CSBF: Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility – a NASA-sponsored facility in Palestine, Texas, which launches [...]<\/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":[11402,2872],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[3927],"coauthors":[10403,10199],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"Scientific Balloons Glossary","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/balloons-glossary\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/balloons-glossary\/"},"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":"Missions","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","Scientific Balloons"],"dateCreated":"2023-02-24T16:19:44Z","datePublished":"2023-02-24T16:19:44Z","dateModified":"2023-06-30T14:27:13Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Scientific Balloons Glossary\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/scientificballoons\/balloons-glossary\/\" \/>\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=\"2023-02-24T16:19:44Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities,Wallops Flight Facility,Scientific Balloons\" \/>\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":7,"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\/190668"}],"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":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/190668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":337295,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/190668\/revisions\/337295"}],"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=190668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=190668"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=190668"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=190668"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=190668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}