NASA tests super pressure balloons in New Zealand

NASA's Scientific Balloon Program has returned to Wānaka, New Zealand, for two test flights of its super pressure balloon technology. These large balloons will operate in the Southern Hemisphere for missions lasting over 100 days, starting in late March. The first flight will carry the High-altitude Interferometer Wind Observation (HIWIND) payload to study winds in the thermosphere. The second flight will include several smaller missions, such as measuring atmospheric light scattering and detecting geophysical events like earthquakes. This campaign marks NASA's sixth super pressure balloon operation in New Zealand since 2015. The agency collaborates with local partners to conduct these missions, which aim to enhance long-duration scientific research in near-space environments.