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NASA Scientific Balloons

NASA's scientific balloon program is managed out of the agency's Wallops Flight Facility.

Viewing Posts from August 2026

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  • Second NASA Balloon Mission Launches from Fort Sumner

    The CLIC 2 mission was hand launched on a scientific balloon from NASA's launch facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, at 7:16 a.m. MDT (9:16 a.m. EDT). The balloon is the second flight for the Compact Large-sensor Imaging Camera mission, carrying a small camera system that can process images in real-time to help determine safe landing spots for rovers for future Moon or Mars missions. The balloon and payload reached a float altitude of around 126,000 feet, and flew for a total of 3 hours, 41 minutes. 

  • NASA Launches First Scientific Balloon of Fort Sumner Campaign

    A scientific balloon is partially inflated on the right with the mobile launch vehicle carrying a payload on the left.

    The Salter Test Flight launched at 8:31 a.m. MDT (10:31 a.m. EDT) Saturday, Aug. 22 from the agency’s balloon launch facility in Fort Sumner, marking the first successful scientific balloon flight of the campaign. The balloon and payload reached a float altitude of around 123,000 feet, and flew for a total of 4 hours, 8 […]

  • NASA Scientific Balloons Prepare for 2026 Fort Sumner Campaign 

    Aerial view of a high-altitude scientific balloon launch preparation in a desert setting at sunset. The white balloon is partially inflated and tethered to a launch vehicle, with support vehicles and personnel positioned around the launch area on a cracked desert surface

    A NASA Scientific Balloon Program annual campaign is getting ready to take flight at the agency’s balloon launch facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Six balloon flights carrying scientific experiments, technology demonstrations, and student payloads are scheduled to launch starting in mid-August.  This year’s campaign marks the 20th flight for the High-Altitude Student Platform carrying payloads developed by student teams. Over the course […]