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High above Earth's surface floats
a critical tool in NASA's

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exploration arsenal.

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Scientific Balloon's.

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Massive, helium filled,

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high-tech balloons lift heavy
scientific experiments into near-space

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to get a clearer view of our planet
and the cosmos.

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Launched around the globe, these unique
NASA missions provide a fast and cost

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effective alternative to rockets to study
Earth, our Solar System, and beyond.

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Balloon science has led to many important
discoveries.

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For example, astrophysicist
John Mather studied heat

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from the early universe using balloons,
which later contributed to his Nobel Prize

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winning work, confirming the Big Bang
Theory of an expanding universe.

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A special type of high altitude balloon
can carry telescopes above the clouds

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for extended periods of time to study the
dark matter in distant galaxy clusters.

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One of these super pressure
balloons called Super Bit

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captured the Tarantula
nebula 160,000 light years away.

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This winter crews in Antartica

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are preparing to launch the Gusto mission.

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Its infrared telescope will examine
the complete life cycle of a star.

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NASA's Scientific Balloon Program -

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guiding a path to
discovery above and beyond.