The countdown for the launch of a revolutionary research-balloon designed to fly higher and longer than anything before is now underway. A recent press release by NASA said that the flight could open a new era in scientific research.
Many scientists see balloon technology as an economical means of studying the Earth and space.
Though the test flight is expected to last only about two weeks and circumnavigate the globe, the ULDB is designed to support missions for up to 100 days. This January flight provides an excellent opportunity to test the newly designed ULDB system. When launched, the balloon is only partially inflated with helium, which expands as it rises. When fully inflated, the massive ULDB would barely fit inside a domed football stadium. Floating above 99 percent of the Earth's atmosphere, it can carry a 3,500-pound payload.