Recent Developments in Scientific Research Ballooning

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Balloon Program is committed to meeting the need for extended duration scientific investigations by providing advanced balloon vehicles and support systems. A sea change in ballooning capability occurred with the inauguration of 8 – 20 day flights around Antarctica in the early 1990's. The attainment of 28 – 31 day flights and a record-breaking 42-day flight in, respectively, two and three circumnavigations of the continent has greatly increased the expectations of the scientific users. A new super-pressure balloon is currently under development for future flights of 60 – 100 days at any latitude, which would bring another sea change in scientific research ballooning.