High above Earth's surface floats a critical tool in NASA's
exploration arsenal.
Scientific Balloon's.
Massive, helium filled,
high-tech balloons lift heavy scientific experiments into near-space
to get a clearer view of our planet and the cosmos.
Launched around the globe, these unique NASA missions provide a fast and cost
effective alternative to rockets to study Earth, our Solar System, and beyond.
Balloon science has led to many important discoveries.
For example, astrophysicist John Mather studied heat
from the early universe using balloons, which later contributed to his Nobel Prize
winning work, confirming the Big Bang Theory of an expanding universe.
A special type of high altitude balloon can carry telescopes above the clouds
for extended periods of time to study the dark matter in distant galaxy clusters.
One of these super pressure balloons called Super Bit
captured the Tarantula nebula 160,000 light years away.
This winter crews in Antartica
are preparing to launch the Gusto mission.
Its infrared telescope will examine the complete life cycle of a star.
NASA's Scientific Balloon Program -
guiding a path to discovery above and beyond.