NASA Scientific Balloons To Return To Flight | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-11.04.24

Airborne-NextGen-11.05.24

Airborne-Unlimited-11.06.24

Airborne-FlightTraining-11.07.24

Airborne-Unlimited-11.08.24

Fri, Dec 17, 2010

NASA Scientific Balloons To Return To Flight

Balloons Had Been Grounded Since An Accident In Australia In April

NASA's scientific balloon program is resuming flights this month after an extensive evaluation of its safety processes following a mishap during an April launch attempt from Australia. NASA's high-altitude balloons fly instruments for scientific and technological investigations that contribute to our understanding of Earth, the solar system, and the universe.


Balloon Launch Configuration From Final Report

In October, a NASA mishap review board listed 25 causes that contributed to the accident, including insufficient risk analysis, contingency planning, personnel training, government oversight and public safety accommodations."NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, and contractor balloon team have done an outstanding job over the past eight months to develop and implement plans to return the balloons to flight," said Jon Morse, director of the Astrophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "We look forward to once again conducting groundbreaking science with these balloon systems."

To prepare for the resumption of flights, NASA developed a corrective action plan to address the recommendations from the mishap review. To return to flight, NASA has:

  • Developed a more stringent launch safety area in which the balloon launch vehicle can maneuver in order to protect the safety of the public.
  • Revised the safety procedures used to conduct balloon launches.
  • Instituted NASA independent ground and flight safety roles to ensure that balloon launches are conducted safely.
  • Redesigned  the launch head mechanism that failed to work properly during the Australia aborted launch.
  • Developed plans to better respond to mishaps and close calls with respect to balloon launch operations.

NASA has approved flights that are scheduled throughout this month over Antarctica. During the Antarctica flights, NASA will use a vehicle that was specifically designed to launch the balloons instead of a commercially obtained mobile crane, which was used during the mishap in Australia. The launch vehicle is built to handle the large, long-duration balloon (LDB) payloads on the compacted snow launch surface. The LDB program in Antarctica is a partnership between NASA and the National Science Foundation, and is carried out through the U.S. Antarctic Program-- a continuous national research presence on the continent since 1956 that is managed by NSF.

NASA's scientific balloons are composed of a lightweight polyethylene film, similar to sandwich wrap. Flying to altitudes of nearly 25 miles, many of the balloons inflate to almost the size of a football stadium and carry payloads weighing up to 6,000 pounds.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/business/foia/balloon_mishap.html

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (11.07.24)

Aero Linx: Vertical Aviation Safety Team (VAST) The Vertical Aviation Safety Team (VAST) is a public–private initiative to enhance worldwide flight operations safety in all s>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.07.24): Maximum Authorized Altitude

Maximum Authorized Altitude A published altitude representing the maximum usable altitude or flight level for an airspace structure or route segment. It is the highest altitude on >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (11.08.24)

“The final hole size matched-drilled technology ensures that all parts align perfectly, reducing the need for measurements and adjustments. This advancement not only saves ti>[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 11.07.24: CFI Changes, DPE Symposium, Evektor Harmony

Also: EAA Scholarship, Keewatin Air Pilots, Bell Textron Donates, Capt. Judy Cameron Scholarship On December 1, 2024, the FAA will be finalizing major changes for current and futur>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Of Old Crows and Young Hearts

An SnF2023 Favorite (YouTube Edition): The Stearman Storyteller A young Dutch boy looked on, rapt with amazement, as a T-6 pilot flew an aerobatic routine during an airshow long lo>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC