NASA tests super-high-altitude balloon

NASA said Thursday that it has tested a balloon that ultimately will be able to carry one ton of research equipment to more than 100,000 feet.

(Credit: NASA)

NASA said Thursday it has performed a test of a prototype super pressure balloon that could carry as much as a ton of research equipment to heights of 110,000 feet or more for up to 100 days.

The balloon, which was launched on December 28, 2008, from McMurdo Station in Antarctica, is 7 million cubic feet and is said to be the largest single-cell, super-pressure, fully sealed balloon ever flown. When the project--which NASA is conducting in coordination with the National Science Foundation--is completed, the space agency should have a 22 million cubic foot balloon to work with.

NASA said that long-duration high-altitude balloon missions are far more cost-effective than satellites and that a chief benefit is that the instruments used can be easily retrieved and re-used.

The test flight made it to an altitude of 111,000 feet and has been at or near that height for 11 days so far.

"The flight tested the durability and functionality of the scientific balloon's unique pumpkin-shaped design and novel material," NASA said in a statement. "The material is a special lightweight polyethylene film, about the thickness of ordinary plastic food wrap."

[Jack K1]

One ton of equipment - or about 6 skydivers in pressure suits...

[Perry_Clease]

I remember back in the '60s when an Air Force test pilot broke, and still holds, the highest jump from a balloon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Excelsior

[businesscontacts]

It can be more cost effective, but it also more dangerous to us on earth. Imagine one ton of equipment falling from 111,000 feet straight to your roof top.

[tech_crazy]

By extension of that logic, a huge 747 could also drop on your rooftop! And one could choke while drinking water. So let's ban airplanes and water!

[bob1xxxx]

LOL crazy tech your so dead on the money LOL!!!!!!!!!

[newgun2000]

But airplanes are under pilots control, Balloons are not and the winds can make these go almost anywhere. 1 TON at 1100,000 feet falling can do alot of damage with no warning

[Bohica55]

This is for several of the comments above; first of all, a 1 ton package of experiments will not "fall" on anybody, it has a parachute controlled descent system to avoid accidents.
Secondly, Captain J. Kittenger jumped from 102,800 feet above the ground, BUT it is not an official record as he did not carry the required sealed barometric device required at the time to prove the altitude achieved. It was not a skydive, it was an uncontrolled fall to approximately 17,000 feet as a result of equipment malfunction, his drogue ribbon chute did not open properly and he was unconscious for the entire fall, until an automatic opener saved his bacon.
Getting back to the scientific package, it would be launched over unpopulated areas and most likely all attempts to keep it away from people would be taken. After all safety is a major concern for ongoing experimentation approval.

[bob1xxxx]

Hmmm whats old is new again. Very Cool I was wondering when new materials would catch up with the age old idea of research/weather balloons. It a great cost effective way to put research instruments in low earth orbit with about 1/100 the eco impact of conventional sounding rocket/ rocket launch of low earth orbit sat launch (all you tree huggers out there should love this idea) . It a great way to but scientific and in the future possible communication links in to stationary low earth obits at every reasonable prices. Anyone with a interest in science should love this time test idea coming back to life again , very cool.

[stevevongass]

I love FoodWrap...Never Mind the Equipment>But Do i Want This Big Amount of PlasticWrap Settling down , After Popping , Over My dogs Or Me and Geez Would We ever Get Out B4 Sufficating? Or Worse?Covering My Home While Making Love ? huh?I have A Hard time breathing Then AnyWays!?

[bob1xxxx]

please obey the 24 hour rule....... stop smoking crystal draino atleast 24 hours before posting..... hope this was a gag post because if your serious we need to make sure you dont drive a car!!!!! LOL

[Bill_I]

All is well until a bird flies into that balloon and deflates it rapidly. I hope the material is actually the felted version of polyethylene microfibers, which is marketed as DuPont Tyvek. You may remember that as the mailing envelope you cannot tear in half.__http://www2.dupont.com/Tyvek/en_US/assets/downloads/tyvek_handbook.pdf__