Balloons

  • Released Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023
  • Updated Monday, November 25th, 2024 at 12:00AM

Overview

Since its establishment more than 30 years ago, the NASA Balloon Program has provided high-altitude scientific balloon platforms for scientific and technological investigations, including fundamental scientific discoveries that contribute to our understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe.

Balloons have been used for decades to conduct scientific studies. They can be launched from locations across the globe and are a low-cost method to carry payloads with instruments that conduct scientific observations.

The primary objective of the NASA Balloon Program is to provide high altitude scientific balloon platforms for scientific and technological investigations.

These investigations include fundamental scientific discoveries that contribute to our understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe. Scientific balloons also provide a platform for the demonstration of promising new instrument and spacecraft technologies that enable or enhance the objectives for the Science Mission Directorate Strategic Plan.

EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope)

ComPair

GRIPS

Solar Scope

Blue Clouds

PIPER

SuperTIGER

COSI

BETTII

CREAM