National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

Extended duration stratospheric flights of large science instruments at mid-latitudes is a goal of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Balloon Program. Balloon flights near the poles fly in almost constant sunlight. Balloon flying at 

mid-latitude will experience day/night cycles which limit the flight duration of conventional balloons. Super Pressure Balloons (SPB) 

offer the promise of extended duration mid-latitude flights. The goal of these flights is to lift a ton of science to 33.5 km (~110,000 ft).

www.nasa.gov

The Super Pressure Balloon Provides Altitude Stability and 

Long Duration Ballooning at mid-Latitudes

The Super Pressure Balloon (SPB) 

The SPB is a balloon that maintains a positive internal pressure in relationship to the environment it is floating in. The 

NASA Super Pressure Balloon is a sealed structure that is 

filled with a measured and specific amount of helium lifting 

gas. The balloon rises after launch, and the helium expands 

as the ambient atmospheric pressure goes down. The balloon 

is designed to fly at a specific pressure altitude with a known 

mass of payload hanging from the balloon.

As a result of maintaining near constant volume, SPB will 

offer greater stability at float altitude with minimal altitude 

excursion during the day/night cycles when compared to 

that experienced on conventional or so called 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. 

Super Pressure Balloon Launch from 

Wanaka, New Zealand

Super Pressure Balloon at Float

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The Super Pressure Balloon is designed to maintain positive pressure at all times, hence constant volume and altitude stabilityF

The overall shape of the NASA SPB is an oblate spheroid 

(like a sphere, only squashed on the top and bottom). The 

height is about 60% of the diameter. The balloon is made 

up of many separate panels called gores that run from top 

to bottom on the balloon. The gore edges are heat sealed 

together along with a tape that contains a very strong and 

light weight tendon or rope that runs from top to bottom 

on the balloon. Each of these gores is shaped such that, 

while under pressure, it has a slightly curved lobed shape, 

resulting in a “pumpkin” shape for the fully-inflated balloon structure. The SPB will enable balloon-borne science 

missions that can’t be studied as effectively at the poles. It 

will also provide a platform for making measurements that 

can’t be accomodated from space. 

Fully deployed super pressure balloon at float

The SPB is designed to maintain positive pressure at all times, hence 

constant volume and altitude stability. The performance and stability 

of the SPB design have been validated through a series of successful 

test flights such as shown above in comparison with the performance 

of the Zero Pressure Balloon (ZP)

SPB launch site in Wanaka, New Zealand

SPB will also provide a platform for 

making some of the critical measurements that cannot be accommodated 

from space, or for which there are no 

planned satellites, with exposures comparable to short-duration spacecraft. 

SPB will also enable Earth Science investigations at a modest cost and for 

the development of instruments and 

subsystems for future use on Earth observing spacecraft.

The table to the right shows a comparison between the capabilities of the 

SPB and the convenventional and long 

duration ZPs.

NP-2022-9-856-WFF

For more information, please contact the Balloon Program Office at (757) 824-1480; or visit https://www.nasa.gov/scientificballoons

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