NASA’s hyperbaric balloon mission has been terminated due to an anomaly

After a successful launch and more than a day in flight, NASA’s second hyperbaric balloon (SPB) carrying EUSO-2 developed a leak, and flight controllers safely terminated the flight over the Pacific Ocean.

the science balloon It was launched from Wanaka Airport, New Zealand, May 13 at 12:02 PM NZST (May 12, 8:02 PM EST). The balloon was in flight for 1 day, 12 hours, and 53 minutes before terminating over the Pacific Ocean on May 14 at 12:54 UTC (8:54 a.m. EDT). The launch was the second and final of NASA’s New Zealand Balloon 2023 launch campaign.

During the flight, the SPB began to experience a leak and teams attempted to cause problems by dropping ballast to keep the balloon aloft. The decision was made to finish the work safely over the Pacific Ocean. NASA will investigate the cause of the anomaly.

“This is an unfortunate end to the mission, and we will investigate the cause to help us continue to improve hyperbaric balloon technology,” said Debbie Fairbrother, chief of NASA’s Science Balloon Program.