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Matías S. Zavia
WriterAerospace and energy industries journalist at Xataka.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
While more modest and often overlooked compared to rockets, stratospheric balloons play an essential role in many NASA scientific investigations. One of these huge balloons has just completed its mission after 17 days of traveling around the Southern Hemisphere.
Around the world in 17 days. In early May, NASA concluded the first flight of its Scientific Balloon Program for 2025. The agency’s super-pressure balloon flew a route across the mid-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere, remaining in the sky for 17 days, 13 hours, and 47 minutes.
Launched on April 17 from Wanaka Airport in New Zealand, the balloon completed a full circumnavigation of the globe on May 3. It splashed down the following day in the Pacific Ocean, around 800 miles off the east coast of New Zealand.
Ocean waters. The mission ended abruptly as the balloon descended straight to the bottom of the sea. Although it met the minimum requirements, the NASA team had been monitoring the situation for a potential leak. During the night, the balloon was losing altitude as it passed through colder temperatures. Operators decided to terminate the flight over the Pacific, resulting in the loss of the payload.
NASA takes precautions even in the event of failure. This type of balloon uses its two-ton payload as ballast, allowing the entire flight train to sink to the ocean floor as quickly as possible. This approach prevents the balloon from lingering in the primary zone of the water column, where most marine species reside.
The mission. The balloon aimed to test a new super-pressure design and carried the HiWind mission, which sought to measure neutral wind in the thermosphere. The thermosphere is the layer of Earth’s atmosphere located between the mesosphere and exosphere. Understanding the neutral wind there can help scientists predict changes in the ionosphere, which can impact communication and navigation systems.
Unlike the longest balloon flight that lasted 57 days, the mission was terminated early. As such, NASA will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the altitude loss to reduce the likelihood of a similar issue in future flights. The second super-pressure balloon of the campaign was launched on Saturday, May 3. You can follow it in real time on NASA’s website.
Super-pressure balloons. These pumpkin-shaped structures are designed to maintain a positive internal pressure and a nearly constant volume. This unique design allows them to achieve greater altitude stability and extend flight durations, given that gas loss is minimal.
Typically, these balloons have a diameter of nearly 500 feet and a volume of around 4 million cubic feet. When fully inflated, a balloon of this size could easily accommodate a football field inside it. Super-pressure balloons can reach altitudes of up to 22 miles, which is more than twice the height of commercial aircraft. They’ve long been considered a potential alternative for space tourism and space launches.
Applications. NASA’s scientific balloons offer a cost-effective method for accessing the stratosphere, enabling research related to both Earth and outer space. Additionally, some of these balloons are equipped with telescopes.
On average, NASA’s Scientific Balloon Program conducts 10 to 15 individual flights each year. The skies offer valuable opportunities for scientific research without the need for a rocket launch.
Image | NASA/Bill Rodman