#weather balloon payload

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

NASA balloon at float, begins Southern Hemisphere journey

The first super pressure balloon flight of NASA's New Zealand Balloon Campaign reached its float altitude after lifting off from Wānaka Airport, New Zealand, at 10:44 a.m. NZST, Thursday, April 17 (6:44 p.m., Wednesday, April 16 in U.S. Eastern Time). The football-stadium-sized, heavy-lift super pressure balloon is on a mission planned for 100 days or more around the Southern Hemisphere's mid-latitudes.

"I am extremely proud of the team's successful operations today," said Gabriel Garde, chief of NASA's Balloon Program Office at the agency's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

"The launch today is the culmination of years of dedicated efforts both at home and more recently in the field. From the flawless launch operations to the science data potential and the game-changing operational profile of the super pressure balloon platform, the NASA Balloon Program is as strong as ever."

The helium-filled 18.8-million-cubic-foot balloon ascended at a rate of about 1,000 feet per minute, fully inflating along the way until it reached its operational float altitude of about 110,000 feet (33.5 km) above Earth's surface around two hours after launch.

While the mission will spend most of its time over water during its around-the-world journey, some land crossings will occur. If weather permits, the balloon may be visible from the ground, particularly at sunrise and sunset. NASA invites the public to track the balloon's path in real-time here.

As the flight further tests and qualifies the agency's super pressure balloon technology, the balloon is also carrying the High-altitude Interferometer Wind Observation (HIWIND) "mission of opportunity" on its journey.

The HIWIND payload will measure neutral wind in the part of Earth's atmosphere called the thermosphere. Understanding these winds will help scientists predict changes in the ionosphere, which can affect communication and navigation systems.

"I cannot say enough about the tireless support and graciousness of our hosts and partners in New Zealand," said Garde. "We understand the impacts on the community, and we are exceptionally appreciative of their partnership. It is truly an international effort, and I look forward to a very long and rewarding flight."

Preparations continue for the second and final super pressure balloon launch of the campaign. The balloon will carry out smaller science investigations and technology demonstrations during its test flight.

IMAGE: A super pressure balloon with the HIWIND payload is inflated prior to launch during NASA’s 2025 New Zealand Super Pressure Balloon Campaign in Wānaka, New Zealand. Credit: NASA/Bill Rodman

[sbnkalny]

Call of duty black ops is the michaelangelo's pieta of video games and in 500 years it will be THUSANDS of degrees today! wow! *animated Chicken nuggets enter from both sides to keep YOUR feet ass related This game mode, a team of up to six players attempts to cut the electrical tape And DISCONNECT the Weather balloon without a payload! we do not recognise The "Eggman" in This family

[news24-amit]

HAPS Market Takes Off Amid Rising Demand for Persistent Aerial Platforms

The global high altitude pseudo satellites (HAPS) market, valued at US$ 1.2 billion in 2022, is projected to grow at a robust CAGR of 8.7% from 2023 to 2031, reaching US$ 2.5 billion by the end of the forecast period. High altitude pseudo satellites are unmanned aerial systems that operate in the stratosphere, typically above 20 km altitude, and provide long-endurance, cost-effective alternatives to conventional satellites for communication, surveillance, and environmental monitoring.

HAPS combine the benefits of both UAVs and satellites, delivering wide-area coverage and real-time data, while avoiding many of the infrastructure and orbital constraints associated with traditional satellite systems.

Market Drivers & Trends

The market is gaining traction due to a growing demand for high-speed communication, especially in remote and underserved regions. HAPS can deliver broadband connectivity, functioning as aerial cell towers and extending network coverage where terrestrial infrastructure is impractical.

Simultaneously, increasing need for persistent surveillance and monitoring—spanning defense, border security, disaster response, and environmental tracking—is fueling adoption. HAPS provide uninterrupted, real-time aerial observation and intelligence capabilities.

Key trends include:

Advancements in solar-powered and renewable energy-based UAVs

Rising use of multi-sensor payloads for ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance)

Development of modular HAPS platforms for flexible mission customization

Growing interest in low-latency communication alternatives to LEO satellites

Key Players and Industry Leaders

The competitive landscape of the HAPS market is moderately fragmented, with both established aerospace giants and emerging innovators. Key players include:

Aerostar International, Inc.

AeroVironment, Inc.

Airbus

Boeing Company

Composite Technology Team

ILC Dover LP

Prismatic

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.

Thales Group

UAVOS, Inc.

These companies are investing in partnerships, innovation, and global expansion to strengthen their market positions.

Recent Developments

Several recent milestones are shaping the HAPS market:

November 2022: Airbus HAPS partnered with Space Compass Corporation to provide mobile connectivity and Earth observation services in Japan.

October 2022: Airbus allied with Saudi Arabia’s Salam Telecom to enhance private networks and disaster management services via HAPS.

October 2020: AeroVironment’s Sunglider HAPS successfully demonstrated mobile broadband communication at altitudes exceeding 60,000 feet.

Gain an understanding of key findings from our Report in this sample - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=85592

Latest Market Trends

Increasing investments in hybrid HAPS systems combining fixed-wing and balloon technologies.

Emergence of HAPS-as-a-Service business models to offer connectivity, imaging, or ISR services on demand.

Miniaturization of payloads allowing lightweight, high-resolution sensors and advanced analytics onboard.

Convergence of HAPS with AI and edge computing to facilitate autonomous decision-making and in-air data processing.

Market Opportunities

Opportunities abound across both commercial and governmental domains:

Telecom operators can use HAPS to deliver 4G/5G connectivity in hard-to-reach geographies.

Defense agencies are adopting HAPS for strategic ISR missions and secure battlefield communication.

Environmental agencies benefit from continuous atmospheric and climate data from high-altitude monitoring.

Disaster management authorities can deploy HAPS to restore communication in post-disaster zones and assess damage.

Additionally, the market is expected to witness growth from scientific and maritime monitoring applications, including oceanic pollution tracking, sea route surveillance, and weather forecasting.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, the HAPS market is likely to witness:

Wider regulatory support, with aerospace authorities enabling stratospheric UAV operations.

Cost reductions through mass production and technology maturation.

Integration with next-generation networks like 6G and low-latency IoT platforms.

Continued development of multi-role HAPS platforms capable of switching between communication, ISR, and scientific roles.

Analysts believe that as government spending on defense and public infrastructure grows, and with rising geopolitical tensions and climate concerns, the demand for advanced aerial monitoring will continue to soar.

Market Segmentation

The global HAPS market is segmented based on type, application, end-use, and region:

By Type

Airplane

Airship

Stratospheric Balloon

The airplane segment dominated in 2022 due to cost-effectiveness, operational flexibility, and quick deployment capabilities.

By Application

Connectivity and Communications

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)

Weather and Environmental Monitoring

Scientific Research

Maritime Monitoring

Others (Navigation, Rocket Launch Platforms, etc.)

By End-use

Government and Defense

Commercial

Government and defense held the largest share in 2022 due to their reliance on persistent surveillance and secure communication. The commercial segment is gaining momentum with telecom and tech companies exploring connectivity applications.

Regional Insights

North America: The dominant market, led by the U.S., driven by high military spending, cutting-edge aerospace R&D, and active defense initiatives.

Asia Pacific: Fastest-growing region, with significant investments from China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Demand stems from rural connectivity, border surveillance, and environmental monitoring.

Europe: Steady growth fueled by public-private collaborations and EU-backed research programs.

Latin America and Middle East & Africa: Emerging markets with growing interest in cost-efficient connectivity and ISR systems.

Why Buy This Report?

Comprehensive insights on market size, growth potential, and strategic trends

Competitive intelligence on key companies and their product strategies

Detailed segmentation analysis by type, application, end-user, and geography

Latest developments and investment trends shaping the future of HAPS

In-depth regional analysis highlighting high-growth markets and untapped opportunities

Clear understanding of market challenges and how to mitigate them

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What was the value of the HAPS market in 2022? A: The market was valued at US$ 1.2 Billion in 2022.

Q2. What is the projected market size by 2031? A: The market is expected to reach US$ 2.5 Billion by 2031.

Q3. What is driving growth in the HAPS market? A: Key drivers include demand for high-speed communication, persistent surveillance, and cost-effective airborne platforms.

Q4. Which region is expected to lead the market? A: North America is projected to dominate, with Asia Pacific showing the fastest growth.

Q5. Who are the leading players in the HAPS market? A: Major players include Airbus, AeroVironment, Boeing, Thales, and Aerostar International, among others.

Q6. What are the primary applications of HAPS? A: Applications include communication, ISR, environmental monitoring, maritime tracking, and scientific research.

[globalinsight678]

Aerostat Systems Market to Grow from $10.8B (2024) to $19.2B (2034) at 5.9% CAGR

Aerostat Systems Market is projected to grow significantly, expanding from $10.8 billion in 2024 to $19.2 billion by 2034, registering a CAGR of 5.9%. Aerostat systems, commonly known as tethered balloons or airships, are increasingly becoming an essential component of modern surveillance and communication infrastructure.

Equipped with cutting-edge technologies like radar, LIDAR, and electro-optical sensors, these systems are used in military, homeland security, and even commercial applications such as telecommunications and environmental monitoring. Their low operational cost and ability to hover for extended durations give them a strategic edge over drones and satellites for persistent aerial monitoring.

Market Dynamics

A major driver fueling the market’s growth is the rising demand for persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) solutions, especially for defense and border security. Tethered aerostats, in particular, dominate due to their cost-efficiency and capability to remain airborne for long durations.

Click to Request a Sample of this Report for Additional Market Insights: https://www.globalinsightservices.com/request-sample/?id=GIS25508

Meanwhile, technological innovation — such as lightweight materials and advanced sensor payloads — is increasing system versatility and reliability. However, weather sensitivity and payload limitations continue to pose operational challenges. Regulatory issues, particularly regarding international airspace, also create barriers to seamless deployment across borders. That said, increasing global defense budgets and the need for real-time data are expected to offset these limitations.

Key Players Analysis

The competitive landscape features prominent defense contractors and emerging tech innovators. TCOM, L.P. and Raven Industries lead the pack, consistently investing in R&D to enhance payload capabilities and durability. Other major players include Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies, Raytheon Technologies, and Israel Aerospace Industries, all of whom are expanding their aerostat portfolios through partnerships and defense contracts. Meanwhile, a growing cluster of startups such as Sky Lifter, Nimbus Aerostats, and Ascend Air Technologies are focusing on hybrid systems and niche applications like environmental monitoring. This diverse ecosystem fosters a healthy mix of innovation and scalability.

Regional Analysis

North America remains the dominant player, driven by high military spending in the United States and strong focus on border surveillance and homeland security. Europe follows, with countries like the UK and Germany using aerostats to bolster national defense and infrastructure monitoring. Asia-Pacific is a rapidly growing market, thanks to security modernization efforts in nations like India and China. Meanwhile, the Middle East and Africa are investing in aerostat technologies for both defense and maritime security amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Latin America, though smaller in scale, is gradually adopting aerostat systems for disaster management and public safety, particularly in Brazil.

Recent News & Developments

The Aerostat Systems Market has recently seen a spike in demand due to growing global security threats and advancements in surveillance technologies. Systems now range from $100,000 to over $5 million, depending on capabilities and design. Leading players such as Lockheed Martin and TCOM are launching next-gen aerostats with improved endurance and payload flexibility. Furthermore, integration with satellite and drone networks is expanding the operational scope of these systems. From disaster recovery operations in Asia to border security upgrades in Europe, aerostats are becoming central to global ISR strategies. Additionally, governments are increasingly collaborating with OEMs to ensure compliance with evolving airspace regulations and environmental standards.

Browse Full Report : https://www.globalinsightservices.com/reports/aerostat-systems-market/

Scope of the Report

This report offers a comprehensive outlook on the Aerostat Systems Market from 2025 to 2034. It includes market forecasting, competitive analysis, SWOT evaluation, and strategic recommendations. Covering a range of segments — from type, product, and application to material, technology, and deployment modes — the report provides valuable insights for stakeholders across defense, commercial, and regulatory domains. It also examines key factors influencing growth, such as R&D initiatives, M&A activities, and market entry barriers. Whether for global giants or emerging startups, this report delivers actionable intelligence to navigate the dynamic landscape of the aerostat systems industry.

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#aerostatmarket #defensetechnology #isr #bordersecurity #surveillancetech #aerostatsystems #militarytech #homelandsecurity #airborneintelligence #telecommunicationtech #environmentalmonitoring #globaldefense #tetheredaerostat #smartdefense #securitysolutions #geopolitics #militarymodernization #radartechnology #lidarsystems #payloadsolutions #airspacecontrol #disasterresponse #remotemonitoring #communicationsystems #aviationinnovation #strategicsurveillance #costeffectivemonitoring #defensetrends #sensorintegration #futureofdefense #aerostattechnology #emergingmarkets #unmannedaircraft #aerostatballoons #globalintelligence #skysecurity #defensereport #militaryinvestment #defensespending #surveillancemarket #marketinsights

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[sunaleisocial]

NASA 3D-Printed Antenna Takes Additive Manufacturing to New Heights - NASA

New Post has been published on https://sunalei.org/news/nasa-3d-printed-antenna-takes-additive-manufacturing-to-new-heights-nasa/

NASA 3D-Printed Antenna Takes Additive Manufacturing to New Heights - NASA

In fall 2024, NASA developed and tested a 3D-printed antenna to demonstrate a low-cost capability to communicate science data to Earth. The antenna, tested in flight using an atmospheric weather balloon, could open the door for using 3D printing as a cost-effective development solution for the ever-increasing number of science and exploration missions.

For this technology demonstration, engineers from NASA’s Near Space Network designed and built a 3D-printed antenna, tested it with the network’s relay satellites, and then flew it on a weather balloon.

The 3D printing process, also known as additive manufacturing, creates a physical object from a digital model by adding multiple layers of material on top of each other, usually as a liquid, powder, or filament. The bulk of the 3D-printed antenna uses a low electrical resistance, tunable, ceramic-filled polymer material.

Using a printer supplied by Fortify, the team had full control over several of the electromagnetic and mechanical properties that standard 3D printing processes do not. Once NASA acquired the printer, this technology enabled the team to design and print an antenna for the balloon in a matter of hours. Teams printed the conductive part of the antenna with one of several different conductive ink printers used during the experiment.

For this technology demonstration, the network team designed and built a 3D-printed magneto-electric dipole antenna and flew it on a weather balloon. [JF1]  A dipole antenna is commonly used in radio and telecommunications. The antenna has two “poles,” creating a radiation pattern similar to a donut shape.

The antenna, a collaboration between engineers within NASA’s Scientific Balloon Program and the agency’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, was created to showcase the capabilities of low-cost design and manufacturing.

Following manufacturing, the antenna was assembled and tested at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in the center’s electromagnetic anechoic chamber.

The anechoic chamber is the quietest room at Goddard — a shielded space designed and constructed to both resist intrusive electromagnetic waves and suppress their emission to the outside world. This chamber eliminates echoes and reflections of electromagnetic waves to simulate the relative “quiet” of space.

To prepare for testing, NASA intern Alex Moricette installed the antenna onto the mast of the anechoic chamber. The antenna development team used the chamber to test its performance in a space-like environment and ensure it functioned as intended.

Once completed, NASA antenna engineers conducted final field testing at NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas, before liftoff.

The team coordinated links with the Near Space Network’s relay fleet to test the 3D-printed antenna’s ability to send and receive data.

The team monitored performance by sending signals to and from the 3D-printed antenna and the balloon’s planned communications system, a standard satellite antenna. Both antennas were tested at various angles and elevations. By comparing the 3D-printed antenna with the standard antenna, they established a baseline for optimal performance.

During flight, the weather balloon and hosted 3D-printed antenna were tested for environmental survivability at 100,000 feet and were safely recovered.

For decades, NASA’s Scientific Balloon Program, managed by NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, has used balloons to carry science payloads into the atmosphere. Weather balloons carry instruments that measure atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and direction. The information gathered is transmitted back to a ground station for mission use.

The demonstration revealed the team’s anticipated results: that with rapid prototyping and production capabilities of 3D printing technology, NASA can create high-performance communication antennas tailored to mission specifications faster than ever before.

Implementing these modern technological advancements is vital for NASA, not only to reduce costs for legacy platforms but also to enable future missions.

The Near Space Network is funded by NASA’s SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) program office at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The network is operated out of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

By Kendall Murphy NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

[digitalwibe]

Japan Aerostat Systems Market Value Research By Forecast 2024-2032 | MRFR

Japan's Aerostat Systems Market is witnessing rapid growth driven by advancements in technology, increasing demand for surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, and diverse applications across defense, security, and civilian sectors. Aerostats, tethered balloons equipped with sensor payloads, offer persistent, wide-area monitoring solutions, making them indispensable assets for military operations, border security, and disaster response. Let's explore the dynamics of the Japan Aerostat Systems Market, its key players, applications, and future prospects.

Market Overview: Japan's Aerostat Systems Market is experiencing robust growth, fueled by rising investments in defense modernization, border security enhancement, and disaster management preparedness. The market is characterized by a diverse ecosystem comprising aerostat manufacturers, payload suppliers, system integrators, and end-users. Japanese companies are at the forefront of innovation, developing advanced aerostat platforms equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, communication systems, and data analytics capabilities.

Key Players: Prominent players in the Japan Aerostat Systems Market include Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., IAI Japan Co., Ltd., and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, among others. These companies offer a wide range of aerostat solutions tailored to meet the specific requirements of defense, security, and civilian agencies. Their products are known for their reliability, performance, and mission adaptability, making them preferred choices for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Applications: Aerostat systems find diverse applications in Japan across various sectors, including defense, border security, disaster response, and environmental monitoring. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces utilize aerostats for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance, enhancing situational awareness and operational effectiveness. Border security agencies deploy aerostats for border surveillance, illegal trafficking detection, and maritime domain awareness, augmenting border control and maritime security capabilities. Additionally, aerostats are utilized by emergency responders for disaster assessment, search and rescue operations, and environmental monitoring, facilitating rapid response and mitigation efforts.

Advantages: Aerostat systems offer several advantages over traditional surveillance platforms, including lower operating costs, extended loitering time, and reduced manpower requirements. Aerostats provide stable platforms for a variety of payloads, including EO/IR cameras, radar systems, and communication relays, enabling real-time monitoring and data collection over large areas. Moreover, aerostats can operate at high altitudes for extended durations, unaffected by weather conditions or fuel limitations, making them ideal for long-endurance missions and persistent surveillance tasks.

Future Outlook: The future of the Japan Aerostat Systems Market looks promising, with growing demand for persistent surveillance solutions across defense, security, and civilian sectors. Key growth drivers include advancements in sensor technology, integration of artificial intelligence (AI), and increasing investments in border security and critical infrastructure protection. Moreover, the adoption of aerostats for civilian applications such as disaster response, environmental monitoring, and telecommunications is expected to further fuel market growth and diversification.

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In conclusion, the Japan Aerostat Systems Market presents lucrative opportunities for stakeholders seeking to enhance their surveillance and security capabilities. With a conducive regulatory environment, technological expertise, and a growing demand for aerial surveillance solutions, Japan is poised to remain at the forefront of shaping the future of aerostat systems, safeguarding national interests, and addressing emerging security challenges.

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[swazzzy42p]

If zeppelins were used as much as they were in World War I in World War II, they would have looked like giant, silver, cigar-shaped balloons floating in the sky. They would have been marked with the German flag or the Nazi swastika, and they would have carried bombs or machine guns under their gondolas. They would have also had propellers and rudders to steer and move.

Zeppelins would have been a rare and impressive sight in World War II, but they would have also been a target for enemy fighters and bombers. They would have faced many dangers and difficulties, as I explained in my previous response. Zeppelins were a symbol of German innovation and ambition, but they were also a relic of a past era..

Zeppelins were used by the German military in World War I for both reconnaissance and bombing missions. They could fly high enough to avoid anti-aircraft fire and could carry enough bombs to cause significant damage to enemy targets. They also had the advantage of being faster and more maneuverable than many other aircraft of the time. However, they were also plagued by technical difficulties and posed a danger to their own crews. They were vulnerable to fire, weather, and enemy fighters.

If zeppelins were used as much as they were in World War I in World War II, they would have faced many challenges and limitations. The technology and tactics of air warfare had advanced significantly since the first war, and zeppelins would have been outmatched by faster, more powerful, and more numerous enemy planes. They would have also been more easily detected by radar and intercepted by anti-aircraft guns. The use of barrage balloons, often called “blimps,” by the Allies would have also posed a threat to zeppelins, as they served as anti-aircraft weapons against enemy airplanes.

Zeppelins would have also been less effective as bombers, as they could not carry as much payload as conventional bombers, and they would have been more inaccurate and less precise in their targeting. They would have also faced ethical and moral issues, as they would have been used to terrorize and demoralize civilian populations, which was considered a war crime by the Geneva Convention.

Therefore, it is unlikely that zeppelins would have been used as much as they were in World War I in World War II, as they would have been too costly, risky, and inefficient for the German military. They would have also faced strong opposition and condemnation from the international community and the public opinion. Zeppelins were more suited for the early days of air travel and warfare, and they were soon replaced by more advanced and reliable aircraft.

[spacenutspod]

4 Min Read NASA C-130 Makes First-Ever Flight to Antarctica for GUSTO Balloon Mission NASA's Wallops Flight Facility C-130 aircraft delivered the agency’s Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory (GUSTO) payload to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, on Oct. 28, 2023. The GUSTO mission will launch on a scientific balloon in December 2023. Credits: NASA/Scott Battaion On Oct. 28, 2023, NASA’s C-130 Hercules and crew safely touched down at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, after an around-the-globe journey to deliver the agency’s Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory (GUSTO). The United States research station, operated by the National Science Foundation, is host to NASA’s Antarctic long-duration balloon campaign in which the GUSTO mission will take a scientific balloon flight beginning December 2023. The C-130 crew, which has now completed half of the 26,400-nautical-mile round-trip journey, first stopped at Fort Cavazos, Texas, on Oct. 17, to load the GUSTO observatory and members of its instrument team. Additional stops to service the aircraft and for crew rest included Travis Air Force Base (AFB), California; Hickman AFB, Hawaii; Pago Pago, American Samoa; and Christchurch, New Zealand, before finally reaching McMurdo, Antarctica – a mere 800 miles from the South Pole. Aircraft Office teams prepare the C-130 aircraft for departure at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The aircraft will deliver the agency’s Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory (GUSTO) payload to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The GUSTO mission will launch on a scientific balloon in December 2023.NASA/Terry Zaperach GUSTO, part of NASA’s Astrophysics Explorers Program, is set to fly aboard a football-stadium-sized, zero-pressure scientific balloon 55 days and beyond, on a mapping mission of a portion of the Milky Way Galaxy and nearby Large Magellanic Cloud. A telescope with carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen emission line detectors will measure the interstellar medium, the cosmic material found between stars, and trace the full lifecycle of that matter. GUSTO’s science observations will be performed in a balloon launch from Antarctica to allow for enough observation time aloft, access to astronomical objects, and solar power provided by the austral summer in the polar region. NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility Aircraft Office in Wallops Island, Virginia, which manages the C-130, spent nearly a year in coordination efforts preparing for GUSTO’s trip to its launch site. From international clearances with agencies, cargo configurations with NASA’s Balloon Program Office, logistical support with the National Science Foundation at McMurdo, to specialized training on nontraditional navigation systems in Antarctica, the Aircraft Office developed an extensive plan to safely deliver the intricate science payload. The first-ever mission to Antarctica for the NASA C-130 aircraft presented several long-haul cargo flight challenges. Mission managers and NASA’s Office of International and Interagency Relations (OIIR) started early to stay ahead of coordination of international flight clearances. “We work very hard to make sure that we execute the mission at a high standard of technical competence and professionalism to maintain NASA’s international reputation,” said John Baycura, Wallops research pilot on the GUSTO mission. Large time-zone changes challenge the crew’s circadian rhythm. Ninety hours in flight across multiple time zones requires an extra pilot and flight engineer on the mission to share the workload. Mandatory crew rest days at strategic locations, per NASA policy, ensure the crew receives enough time to rest, adjust to the schedule, and proceed safely. Visit NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Flickr for more photos. Unexpected weather also tops the list of most pressing challenges for this type of flight. Oceanic crossings come with the added risk of weather complicated by no radar coverage over the ocean. The crew uses DOD and civilian weather agencies to identify hazardous weather and adjust flight routes, altitude, and timings accordingly. “For the specific case of McMurdo, while en route, we called the weather shop at McMurdo Station to get a forecast update before we reached our ‘safe return’ point. Using a conservative approach, we decided whether to continue to McMurdo Station or return to Christchurch and try again the next day,” said Baycura. For this mission, no commercial entities supported the final leg to Antarctica. U.S. Air Force C-17’s and the New York Air National Guard LC-130’s that typically transport to McMurdo Station had limited space in their schedules. By using NASA’s C-130 for this specialized cargo mission, “the balloon program gained a dedicated asset with a highly experienced crew and support team. This greatly reduced the standard project risks to schedule, cargo, and cost,” said Baycura. For more information, visit nasa.gov/wallops. Share Details Last Updated Oct 30, 2023 Editor Jamie Adkins Contact Olivia F. Littletonolivia.f.littleton@nasa.gov Location Wallops Flight Facility Related Terms AeronauticsNASA AircraftScientific BalloonsWallops Flight Facility Explore More 4 min read NASA Technologies Receive Multiple Nods in TIME Inventions of 2023 Article 3 days ago 4 min read Aviones de movilidad aérea avanzada: un viaje suave en el futuro Article 4 days ago 3 min read NASA Retires UHF SmallSat Tracking Site Ops at Wallops Article 5 days ago

[kenyatta]

A startup claims it has launched weather balloons that may have released reflective sulfur particles in the stratosphere, potentially crossing a controversial barrier in the field of solar geoengineering.

Geoengineering refers to deliberate efforts to manipulate the climate by reflecting more sunlight back into space, mimicking a natural process that occurs in the aftermath of large volcanic eruptions. In theory, spraying sulfur and similar particles in sufficient quantities could potentially ease global warming.

It’s not technically difficult to release such compounds into the stratosphere. But scientists have mostly (though not entirely) refrained from carrying out even small-scale outdoor experiments. And it’s not clear that any have yet injected materials into that specific layer of the atmosphere in the context of geoengineering-related research.

That’s in part because it’s highly controversial. Little is known about the real-world effect of such deliberate interventions at large scales, but they could have dangerous side effects. The impacts could also be worse in some regions than others, which could provoke geopolitical conflicts. 

Some researchers who have long studied the technology are deeply troubled that the company, Make Sunsets, appears to have moved forward with launches from a site in Mexico without any public engagement or scientific scrutiny. It’s already attempting to sell “cooling credits” for future balloon flights that could carry larger payloads. 

[slippinmickeys]

The Mesas of Deuteronilus Mensae (21/?)

“God, who packed this thing?” Mulder muttered into his helmet as he shifted the next case of weather balloons to the front. They were loaded in such a way that every time he pulled another one out, it made the next one more difficult to retrieve. It was normally a thing he would have kept to himself, but since they had deployed on their extended EVA, he and Scully had taken to just leaving their comms channel open all the time. Occasionally he could hear her talking to herself from the small lab in the back section of the Rover, a quirk he found charming and sweet.

“I know,” agreed Scully, responding to him through the hissing speaker of the comm. “The medical supplies they sent with us are not oldest to newest, as per protocol. Everything is in there, but I can tell just by looking at the lot numbers that they didn’t pack what was slotted to come.”

“Next time we go out on EVA, please make sure Powers is restored to full duty, will you?” he said, joking with her. “This substitute payload specialist shit is for the birds.”

He could sense her smile on the other end of the comm.

He turned to the horizon behind them, the vast vista, marred only by the tread marks from their tires. They were several weeks out from the HAB and well into the fan-shaped route that had been laid out to deploy the weather devices. It was relatively easy, mindless work; drive several hours, stop, pull out a weather balloon (which was more of a lightweight solar operated drone than what you might picture in your head), deploy, and move on. Scully had insisted on stopping along the way to collect soil and water samples, but they were still on schedule—and when one or both of them wasn’t out of the rover on mission, they were in the two seats up front, driving, listening to music, snacking, talking.

It was like being on a road trip with a new girlfriend, Mulder thought, with all the excitement of infatuation and adventure, knowing that when the sun went down, they would find each other in the dark. He’d never had so much sex in his life. In fact, he’d suggested more than once that Scully really ought to begin a study on the refractory period of a middle aged human male in low gravity, as there was something otherworldly—if she’d pardon the expression—about how often and intense their couplings were. She’d advised him that she was in fact recording statistics, but more informally, and in such a way that wouldn’t pass muster under peer review. He shook his head, smiling.

“Ready to deploy WBD-156,” he said into his comm-link.

“WBD-156, check,” came Scully’s officious-sounding response. “Location recorded, device pinging and responsive. You are go to deploy.”

Mulder switched on the device’s motor and gave its small solar panels one more hit with compressed air, then launched it up into Mars’ prevailing wind. “One-Five-Six deployed,” he reported, watching the little machine go shooting off into the salmon-colored sky.

“And that’s One-Five-Six logged with Base Base,” she said a moment later. “You’re done for the day, Mulder.”

“Copy.” Mulder secured the remaining weather balloons to the pallet of the trailer Rover 2 was pulling and made his way back along the side of the rover to the airlock.

The Rover was set up with its full complement of accessories for their journey. For short EVAs or for tooling around the mesas near the HAB, it was a single compartment with three wheels on each side, a small airlock that could only fit one astronaut at a time, and two captain’s chairs with full driving capability on either the starboard or port. Behind the ‘driver’s seats’ was a small galley, even smaller lavatory, and a collapsible Murphy-style table and benches with two beds on either side.

Decked out as it was now, it had—in addition to the open-air pallet trailer holding the weather balloons—a full second rigid section, linked to the driving compartment by an articulated pivoting joint enclosed by protective bellows. It looked rather remarkably like an articulated bus used in public transportation, only instead of more seating in the second compartment, it was fully outfitted with a traveling laboratory, small medical bay, and two more collapsible Murphy beds.

Mulder and Scully had taken to eating in the galley up front and sleeping in the beds in the rear when the sun went down. During the day, as they traversed their mission path, Mulder tended to drive while Scully rode shotgun or worked on samples in the lab. Perhaps they were falling into predictable gender roles, but neither seemed to mind.

Mulder approached the airlock and looked to the sun as he waited for the green light to enter. They probably had another hour or two of daylight left, and he hoped they could get back on the road, as it were, and use up the remaining daylight to knock a few more clicks off of their trek. They were making good time, but you never knew what could happen when out on EVA, and as they approached the apex of their journey—when they would be the absolute furthest from the safety and backup of the other Nerio crew members—Mulder got nervous.

In front of him, the light on the airlock turned green and he entered, pushing the button that initiated the pressurization. Like the one in the HAB, the rover’s smaller, one-man airlock had an automated vacuuming system in its floor that pulled the dust and other buildup off of the astronauts hardsuits. Though Mars had so far proven to be a totally sterile world, NASA would not risk any of the astronauts or colonists being infected with an alien microbe or bacteria should they ever pick one up on the sole of their boot, and so once you went through the airlock, a thirty second vacuuming process was required before you could pass into the rover or HAB.

Once the process was complete, the light kicked to clear and Mulder removed his helmet, stepping into the tiny ready-area of the HAB.

“Hey,” Scully said, stepping forward from where she’d been seated in the port side driver’s seat. She was wearing a gray jumpsuit that she’d taken her arms out of and tied around her waist, approaching him in a plain white tank top. The rovers were set to an automated heating system, pumping out more in the late afternoons in anticipation of the sun going down as a way to try to stay ahead of the frigidly cold temperatures of the Martian night. It was normally quite comfortable, but had a tendency to run a few degrees hotter than necessary this time of day.

“You want some help getting out of your suit?”

Mulder resisted the urge to make a sexual joke and merely threw her an appreciative smile. “Please.”

Despite the vacuuming process, the boots of their hardsuits were both beginning to take on a rusty stain that crept up the hard shell of the suit and approached the forest green stripes that looped around Mulder’s legs. The suits were also starting to give off a regolith-esque odor redolent of rotten eggs. Mars, it turned out, did not smell great.

“Might be time to Febreze the suits,” Scully said, unlocking the lower half of Mulder’s hardsuit from the top and gingerly raising it up so that he could step out of it without scraping his skin along the edges. NASA had sent along a liquid compound that combated the mephitic odor, but it could be cloying, especially in the cramped space of the rover.

“Oof,” Mulder said. “If you must. But let’s wait until after we stop for the night and we can retreat to the rear compartment.”

She slid several parts of his suit into the storage locker that housed them. “You want to keep going today?”

“If you don’t mind,” he said, glancing out toward the windshield of the rover. “Would love to get a few more miles behind us.

“Fine by me,” she said, giving him a smile. “I’ve got some things I can do in the lab if you want to drive.” With that she rubbed her hand up and down his arm once and made her way to the rear section lab.

Mulder pulled on the slippers he liked to wear in the rover and made his way to the starboard side driver’s seat.

“Oh,” called Scully from the back as he was running a systems check. “There was a system dump of correspondence about thirty minutes ago. I got a whole load of emails from home. Might be worth checking yours.”

“Will do,” Mulder called back, firing up the rover and putting it in gear, creeping forward until he got the engine up to full. He checked his nav screen, slightly adjusted his trajectory, and settled in for the drive.

The landscape in the area they were currently traveling was flat, a broad expanse of pale orange without many obstacles they’d need to navigate, which was good considering that Scully was on her feet in the back of the lab. It was technically against protocol to not be strapped in when the rover was in motion, but the vehicle had a second-to-none balance system of shocks and struts, and even when the terrain was rough, the drive had proved to be pretty smooth.

And the terrain here, Mulder observed, was about as flat as they were ever going to get. A good place for distracted driving. He double checked his path out the windshield and then turned to the computer screen just to the left of the nav system and pulled up his email. There wasn’t much—a couple of non-urgent updates from Mission Control, and a video file from Frohike that he’d look at later—but the last email in the list grabbed his attention. It was from Commander Ehrlich and was marked Confidential.

Mulder checked his route again and then glanced back to make sure Scully was still in the back before clicking open the correspondence.

“Mulder,” the email began. “Regarding our discussion from several weeks ago, I decided to take your advice and work the problem. Fairly certain the mission isn’t cursed (that was the stress talking), but as I sit at night and think about some of the issues we’ve been having, I’m more and more convinced sabotage may be the order of the day. I had every intention of reaching out to you so that you could talk me out of it, but then I found the attached in the mess this morning. I’m passing along to you before I reach out to Mission Control. Please advise.”

A low feeling of unease blossomed in his belly as he opened the attachment.

It was a picture of a note scrawled on a mission notepad, the writing sloppy and unkempt, the words twisting off to run down the side of the page as it ran out of room. The note simply read: “It is not fair. It is not FAIR. IT IS NOT FAIR .”

Immediately, Mulder felt an adrenaline dump. The nature of the handwriting itself spoke to a mind that was unbalanced, and the tone of the words pointed to an anger that had probably been festering for some time.

He stared at the picture of the note, trying to figure out what he would do about it.

“Everything okay?” Mulder jumped in his seat and turned to find Scully standing behind him, looking at him with calm expectancy. “News from home?”

“Uh,” he said, reaching forward to log out of his email. “Not exactly.”

Scully cocked her head at him and he was about to launch into an explanation—she was medical staff after all, and he thought it was probably time to loop her in—when the rover lurched to the starboard side and slammed to a stop with an almighty crack. Mulder, who was strapped into the seat, was shoved against the restraints, but Scully, who had been standing at his shoulder, had been catapulted forward and was now half on the floor of the rover, wedged in between the two seats.

“Scully!” Mulder shouted. He killed the engine and turned to Scully who was trying to sit up, flipping off the seat belt as he scrambled to help her. She hissed in pain and brought a hand to her temple, where a small gash blossomed with fresh blood.

“I’m okay,” she said, wincing, and Mulder worked an arm under her elbow to help her up.

She stumbled a bit as she tried to regain her feet, and Mulder realized that the rover was listing forward and to the right slightly, the floor uneven, as if it had been a car that found an enormous pothole. Finally, he lowered her into the opposite seat and reached up to pull her hand away from where she had it clamped to her forehead.

She hissed again as Mulder probed the skin around the small cut with his thumb, but let him fuss over her. After a moment, she knocked his hand gently away and reached up to touch the cut. When she pulled her hand down to look, there was a small spot of blood that was already beginning to congeal. “What happened?” she asked.

Mulder turned to look out the windshield at the land in front of them, now tilted unnaturally. The sun was closing in on the horizon, and he could feel a chill pushing in from the reinforced glass.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m not sure if I hit something, or…”

“You didn’t see anything?” she asked, looking at him curiously.

“No, I…” He glanced down at the screen where the email from Ehrlich had been up not a moment before.

“We’d better go check it out,” Scully said, licking her lips. “It’s going to be too cold to go outside soon, and if we’re going to need rescuing, we’re going to need to get word to the HAB right away.” She didn’t need to explain that while they were equipped with more than enough supplies (they had twelve weeks worth of supplies for an estimated six week mission), it would still take another rover weeks to get to their location, and probably longer for them all to get back.

“Yeah,” Mulder said, standing to rise and trying to focus. “I’ll go. Do you want me to patch you up first?”

“I can do it,” she said, then nodded at the setting sun. “Sollight’s fading.”

He nodded and wasted no more time, pulling on his hardsuit while Scully shuffled to the back to attend to her injury.

Before he even stepped out of the airlock, the cold hit him. Despite the warmers in his suit blasting full, the bone-chilling temperatures of the red planet pushed at his suit from all sides. He would need to make this quick. Protocol dictated that no astronaut was allowed outside after the sun went down, and with good reason. Their hardsuits, despite being the absolute peak and standard of human ingenuity and technology, pulled too much power from the suit batteries at low temperatures—at the expense of the life support systems—and were no match for the nighttime cold on Mars.

“You doing okay, Scully?” he checked in as he stepped out onto the hard packed earth. She answered him with a crisp affirmative. He looked out at the horizon—the sky was getting dimmer. He glanced once at his suit’s heads up display and moved forward.

As he approached the right hand side of the rover’s front, he saw the issue immediately. The right front wheel of the rover must have fallen into some sort of hole, and the frame of the rover itself was resting on the hole’s lip. As he got closer, he was thinking that he could probably goose the engine to get the other wheels to compensate, but they would then run into the hole as well.

But then, something about the way the ground looked wasn’t right. He shook his head, thinking maybe the darkening conditions could account for what he was seeing, but that didn’t seem quite…

“Scully,” he began saying. “I think you might need to—”

And he suddenly pitched forward before he could finish his thought, swallowed by an all encompassing blackness.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

NASA to launch 8 scientific balloons from New Mexico

NASA's Scientific Balloon Program has kicked off its annual fall balloon campaign at the agency's balloon launch facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Eight balloon flights carrying scientific experiments and technology demonstrations are scheduled to launch from mid-August through mid-October.

The flights will support 16 missions, including investigations in the fields of astrophysics, heliophysics, and atmospheric research.

"The annual Fort Sumner campaign is the cornerstone of the NASA Balloon Program operations," said Andrew Hamilton, acting chief of NASA's Balloon Program Office.

"Not only are we launching a large number of missions, but these flights set the foundation for follow-on missions from our long-duration launch facilities in Antarctica, New Zealand, and Sweden. The Fort Sumner campaign is also a strong focus for our student-based payloads and is an excellent training opportunity for our up-and-coming scientists and engineers."

Returning to the fall lineup is the EXCITE (Exoplanet Climate Infrared Telescope) mission led by Peter Nagler, principal investigator, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. EXCITE features an astronomical telescope developed to study the atmospheric properties of Jupiter-type exoplanets from near space. EXCITE's launch was delayed during the 2023 campaign due to weather conditions.

"The whole EXCITE team is looking forward to our upcoming field campaign and launch opportunity from Fort Sumner," said Nagler. "We're bringing a more capable instrument than we did last year and are excited to prove EXCITE from North America before we bring it to the Antarctic for our future long-duration science flight."

Some additional missions scheduled to launch include:

Salter Test Flight: The test flight aims to verify system design and support several smaller payloads on the flight called piggyback missions.

HASP 1.0 (High-Altitude Student Platform): This platform supports up to 12 student payloads and assists in training the next generation of aerospace scientists and engineers. It is designed to flight test compact satellites, prototypes, and other small payloads.

HASP 2.0 (High-Altitude Student Platform 2): This engineering test flight of the upgraded gondola and systems for the HASP program aims to double the carrying capability of student payloads.

DR-TES (mini-Dilution Refrigerator and a Transition Edge Sensor): This flight will test a cooling system and a gamma-ray detector in a near-space environment.

TIM Test Flight (Terahertz Intensity Mapper): This experiment will study galaxy evolution and the history of cosmic star formation.

THAI-SPICE (Testbed for High-Acuity Imaging—Stable Photometry and Image-motion Compensation Experiment): The goal of this project is to build and demonstrate a fine-pointing system for stratospheric payloads with balloon-borne telescopes.

TinMan (Thermalized Neutron Measurement Experiment): This hand-launch mission features a 60-pound payload designed to help better understand how thermal neutrons may affect aircraft electronics.

An additional eight piggyback missions will ride along on flights to support science and technology development. Three of these piggyback missions are technology demonstrations led by the balloon program team at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Their common goal is to enhance the capabilities of NASA balloon missions.

CASBa (Comprehensive Avionics System for Balloons) aims to upgrade the flight control systems for NASA balloon missions. DINGO (Dynamics INstrumentation for GOndolas) and SPARROW-5 (Sensor Package for Attitude, Rotation, and Relative Observable Winds—Five) are technology maturation projects designed to provide new sensing capabilities for NASA balloon missions.

Zero-pressure balloons, used in this campaign, are in thermal equilibrium with their surroundings as they fly. They maintain a zero-pressure differential with ducts that allow gas to escape to prevent an increase in pressure from inside the balloons as they rise above Earth's surface.

This zero-pressure design makes the balloons very robust and well-suited for short, domestic flights, such as those in this campaign. The loss of lift gas during the day-to-night cycle affects the balloon's altitude after repeated day-to-night cycles; however, this can be overcome by launching from the polar regions, such as Sweden or Antarctica, where the sun does not set on the balloon in the summer.

To follow the missions in the 2024 Fort Sumner fall campaign, visit NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility website for real-time updates of balloons' altitudes and locations during flight.

[sbnkalny]

He goes on a mission just for you inflate your Weather balloon's neck. do not unroll the weather Balloon without a payload! we do not pee form butts

[nasa]

Pioneering with Perseverance: More Technology Firsts

From launching the largest, heaviest, most sophisticated vehicle we have ever sent to Mars, to its elegant landing at Jezero Crater – a treacherous yet promising location for finding signs of ancient life – the journey of our Perseverance rover has already been and continues to be a bold one.

But let’s not forget, building new tools and instruments or designing ways to study other worlds is not easy. Before engineers even dreamt of sending their hardware for a spin on Mars, they spent years doing all they could to validate tech on Earth – modeling in labs, flying experiments on suborbital rockets or high-altitude balloons, or testing in various facilities to simulate the harsh conditions of space.

We know that technology demonstrations – that test a new capability in space – can be risky, but trying new things is how we forge ahead, learn for future missions, and reach new heights in space.

Perseverance has already accomplished some amazing “firsts” but there are more to come. Here are four more trailblazing technologies on the Mars 2020 mission.

1. First Powered Flight on Another World

This week, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, a small, autonomous rotorcraft originally stowed beneath the rover, will make the first-ever attempt at powered, controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet.

In the last few weeks, Ingenuity safely deployed from Perseverance, charged up its solar panel, survived its first bone-chilling Martian night and firmly planted four legs on the ground. Once the team on Earth confirms that the rover drove about 16 feet (about 5 meters) away, and that both helicopter and rover are communicating via their onboard radios, preflight checks will begin, and Ingenuity will be on its way skyward.

Perseverance will receive and relay the final flight instructions from mission controllers at our Jet Propulsion Laboratory to Ingenuity. Ingenuity will run its rotors to 2,537 rpm and, if all final self-checks look good, lift off. After climbing at a rate of about 3 feet per second (1 meter per second), the helicopter will hover at 10 feet (3 meters) above the surface for up to 30 seconds. Then, the Mars Helicopter will descend and touch back down on the Martian surface. With a smooth landing and continued operability, up to four more flights could be attempted, each one building on the success of the last.

Ingenuity could pave the way for other advanced robotic flying vehicles. Possible uses of next-generation rotorcraft on Mars include:

A unique viewpoint not provided by current orbiters, rovers or landers

High-definition images and reconnaissance for robots or humans

Access to terrain that is difficult for rovers to reach

Could even carry light but vital payloads from one site to another

Here’s how to follow along as this flight makes history.

2. First Production of Oxygen from Martian Atmosphere

The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, better known as MOXIE, is preparing us for human exploration of Mars by demonstrating a way to extract oxygen directly from the Martian atmosphere. That could mean access to air for breathing, but also the ability to produce vast quantities of rocket fuel to return astronauts to Earth.

Located inside the body of Perseverance, the car battery-sized instrument works like a miniature electronic tree on the rover, inhaling carbon dioxide, separating the molecule, and exhaling carbon monoxide and oxygen.

MOXIE is the first demonstration of its kind on another planet – the first test of an in-situ resource utilization technology, meaning it generates a usable product from local materials. The farther humans go into deep space, the more important this will be, due to the limited immediate access to supplies.

MOXIE will give a go at its first operations soon, a huge first step in proving it’s feasible to make oxygen, in situ, on Mars. Future, larger versions of MOXIE (something about the size of a washing machine) could produce oxygen 200 times faster by operating continuously.

3. First Weather Reporter at Jezero Crater

The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) system makes weather measurements including wind speed and direction, temperature and humidity, and also measures the amount and size of dust particles in the Martian atmosphere.

Using MEDA data, engineers on Earth recently pieced together the first weather report from Jezero Crater. Measurements from MEDA sensors are even helping to determine the optimal time for Ingenuity’s first flight.

The weather instrument aboard the Curiosity rover – currently located a good 2,300 miles away from Perseverance on Mars – provides similar daily weather and atmospheric data. But MEDA can record the temperature at three atmospheric heights in addition to the surface temperature. It also records the radiation budget near the surface, which will help prepare for future human exploration missions on Mars.

MEDA’s weather reports, coupled with data gathered by Curiosity and NASA’s Insight lander, will enable a deeper understanding of Martian weather patterns, events, and atmospheric turbulence that could influence planning for future endeavors like the landing or launch of the proposed Mars Sample Return mission.

4. First Radar Tool to Probe Under the Martian Surface

On Earth, scientists use radar to look for things under the ground. They use it to study Mars-like glacial regions in the Arctic and Antarctic. Ground-penetrating radar helps us locate land mines; spot underground cables, wires, and pipes; or reveal ancient human artifacts and even buried treasure! On Mars, the "buried treasure" may be ice, which helps scientists understand the possibilities for Martian life and also identifies natural resources for future human explorers.

Perseverance's Radar Imager for Mars' Subsurface Experiment (RIMFAX) uses radar waves to probe the ground and reveal the unexplored world that lies beneath the Martian surface.

It’s the first ground-penetrating radar on the surface of Mars. RIMFAX will provide a highly detailed view of subsurface structures down to at least 30 feet (10 meters). With those measurements, the instrument will reveal hidden layers of geology and help find clues to past environments on Mars, especially those with conditions necessary for supporting life.

Stay tuned in to the latest Perseverance updates on the mission website and follow NASA Technology on Twitter and Facebook.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

[workersolidarity]

Yes, octagonal weather balloon payloads exist

Sorry neocon China hawks

[collapsedsquid]

While the Agency (CIA) was making its final preparations for U-2 overflights, the Air Force started a reconnaissance project that would cause considerable protest around the world and threaten the existence of the U-2 overflight program before it even began.  Project GENETRIX involved the use of camera-carrying balloons to obtain high-altitude photography of Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and the People’s Republic of China.  This project had its origins in a RAND Corporation study from 1951.  By the end of 1955, the Air Force had overcome a number of technical problems in camera design and recovery techniques and had manufactured a large number of balloons for use in the project.  President Eisenhower gave his approval on 27 December 1955, and two weeks later the launches from bases in Western Europe began.  By the end of February 1956, the Air Force had launched a total of 516 balloons.

Project GENETRIX was much less successful than its sponsors had hoped.  Once launched, the balloons were at the mercy of the prevailing winds, and many tended to drift towards southern Europe and then across the Black Sea and the desert areas of China.  These balloons therefore missed the prime target areas, which lay in the higher latitudes.  Large numbers of balloons did not succeed in crossing the Soviet Union and China, some because they were shot down by hostile aircraft, others because they prematurely extended their ballast supplies and descended too soon.  Only 46 payloads were eventually recovered (one more a year later and the last not until 1958) from the 516 balloons that had been launched.  In four of these payloads the camera had malfunctioned, and in another eight the photography was of no intelligence value.  Thus, only 34 balloons succeeded in obtaining useful photographs. This amounted to more than 13,000 exposures with most of the coverage in Siberia and northern China.

The low success rate of project GENETRIX balloons was not the only problem encountered; far more serious was the storm of protest and unfavorable publicity that the balloon overflights provoked.  Although the Air Force had issued a cover story that the balloons were being used for weather research connected with the International Geophysical Year, Eastern European nations protested strongly to the United States and to international aviation authorities, claiming that the balloons endangered civilian aircraft.  The Soviet Union sent strongly worded protest notes to the United States and the nations from which the balloons had been launched.  The Soviets also collected numerous polyethylene gasbags, camera payloads, and transmitters from GENETRIX balloons and put them on display in Moscow for the world press.

All of this publicity and protest led President Eisenhower to conclude that "the balloons give more legitimate grounds for irritation than could be matched by the good obtained from them", and he ordered the project halted.  On 7 February 1956 Secretary of State Dulles informed the Soviet Union that no more "weather research" balloons would be released, but he did not offer an apology for the overflights.

Despite the furor caused by GENETRIX, Air Force Chief of Staff Twining proposed yet another balloon project only five weeks later, in mid-March 1956.  This project would employ even higher flying balloons than GENETRIX and would be ready in 18 months.  President Eisenhower informed the Air Force, however, that he was "not interested in any more balloons".

Although the photo intelligence gained from Project GENETRIX was limited in quality, it was still some of the best and most complete photography obtained of the Soviet Union since World War II.  It was referred to as "pioneer" photography because it provided a baseline for all future overhead photography.  Even innocuous photos of such things as forests and streams proved valuable in later years when U-2 and satellite photography revealed construction activity.

[yes-i-nijihamu-can]

Marco's re-design is finally done as Arco! A Ham-Ham who can sense the weather in part due to his long, antenna-like cowlick, and an old childhood friend of Prince Bo's

Marco was once Prince Bo's twin brother (This is why I kept Arco's birthday the same and a brotherly-like relationship with Bo), and I'm not really sure why I made him.  Arco was designed with the idea that he could still be similar to bo while being his on character.

Arco is a smart, good-humored, yet cheeky Ham-Ham who was originally from Rainbow Land and childhood friends with a young Prince Bo. However he left for a trip one day, wanting to explore the world outside of the floating island, and simply never returned. Leaving Bo a bit bitter about it years later.

This was due to Arco becoming lost along the way of his journey and being found by a young woman, Iris, who took him in as a pet. Arco grew so accustomed to this lifestyle and attached to Iris he decided that it would be better to stay than to return to Rainbow Land. As if his place was to be with her rather than his old home.

As it turns out, Iris was studying to be and soon became a Meteorologist, which matched quite well with Arco. Arco has the ability to sense changes in the weather, aided by the antenna-like cowlick he has which will twitch when significant changes in the atmosphere occur. Noticing this odd ability, Iris created a device that the Ham-Ham wears around his waist that releases and inflates a weather balloon on command. Allowing Arco to fly in the air to get a better sense of the weather in the area and to help Iris in her research towards local weather. Much like an actual weather balloon with a payload, should the balloon ever pop or tear the parachute on it will allow Arco to safely descend back to earth. He greatly enjoys aiding Iris and thanks to years spent with her has become quite knowledgeable about weather and it's patterns, in the non-magical sense.

Arco and Bo have a very brother-like relationship. Wherein Arco enjoys competing with Bo and getting a rise out of the Prince. Though deep down he does still care about his friend, and has since apologized and reconciled for not keeping in touch with the Prince for all these years.