NASA Balloon Up, Up and Away!

After launching from Wanaka back on 17 May the NASA super pressure balloon is still aloft and was at the time of this updated blog post meandering around the western coast of South America at 84000ft.


And ironically as this updated post went to air the balloons mission was terminated over Peru!

http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-completes-balloon-technology-test-flight-sets-flight-duration-record

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After numerous attempts thwarted by weather NASA's super pressure balloon lifted off from Wanaka late on the morning of 17 May and with its 1 tonne payload quickly attained its optimum altitude of 110000ft as it sailed towards the east before making an about turn and heading in a northwesterly direction.

The NASA Wallops Flight Facility team are hopeful the balloon will be on a 100+ day around the world journey breaking the earlier record for such a flight which stands at 54 days. Fully inflated it expands to 18.8 million cubic feet and is as large as 92 Goodyear blimps!! The clear skies across the South Island yesterday meant the balloon was easily visible with the naked eye from distances estimated to be 80km away. 

Differing from last years balloon, this example has been registered with the United States civil aircraft regulator, the FAA, and has been allocated the marks N351WQ with the Office of Commercial Space Transportation.