A couple of weeks ago we talked about a NASA project to improve the science return from atmospheric balloons by, well, returning them… or at least their payloads. This story isn’t an update on that project but on another technology for scientific balloons.

The super pressure balloon (SPB) development started in 2017 in New Zealand. Future testing was delayed because of the ongoing panini, but NASA teams are returning to start the test campaign. The super pressure balloon promises to allow up to 100-day flights, which can replace sending an experiment to orbit. The key problem of balloon design for these long flights is the expansion and contraction of materials during day and night, which causes the balloon to break eventually.

The super pressure balloon has different fittings that allow the balloon to move without breaking, making it more durable. Another upgraded mechanism is the launch collar, which, according to the NASA press release: …is the mechanism that holds the balloon film together after release of the balloon bubble from the spool—the collar is released just before launch of the payload”.

After this year’s flight, NASA will do two more next year, also from New Zealand.

More Information

NASA press release