PHOTO: SHANNON THOMSONNasa's Wānaka operation has successfully launched its second super pressure balloon from the town’s airport. Nasa earlier tweeted that its team had begun inflating the super pressure balloon partially with helium before it will be released to float up into Earth’s atmosphere where it may circle the Southern Hemisphere for up to 100 days. Wānaka airport gave the all-clear to air traffic control and roads around the site have been closed. Just after midday, the super pressure balloon was in the air, climbing at approximately 1000 feet (304 metres) per minute. In a post to the Nasa Wallops Twitter account yesterday, the agency said the third launch window for the football-stadium-sized balloon would open today between 8am and 11.30am.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 13, 2023 07:31 UTC