The window for NASA’s super pressure balloon (SPB) launch from Wānaka Airport is now open for the mission that will take the 2.5-ton, football-stadium-sized balloon on a long-duration test flight.

Wānaka Airport says NASA is ‘launch ready’, which means as soon as there are perfect weather conditions NASA will attempt to launch the super pressure space balloon.

NASA is planning a launch attempt for tomorrow (Wednesday May 11) at 10am.

“Our team has done an amazing job overcoming some massive logistical challenges and performing a number of check-outs on the balloon, gondola, and support instruments to get us to this point now where we’re ready for launch,” NASA Balloon Programme office chief Debbie Fairbrother said.

“From here, we just need Mother Nature to cooperate with the launch weather requirements we have to both ensure safety and mission success—I’m looking forward to this first launch attempt.”

For launch, winds need to be light and flowing in a reliable direction both at the surface and at low levels up to about 1,000 feet (300 metres). Winds flowing in opposite directions on the ground and lower levels could have a shearing effect on the balloon. 

In addition, NASA monitors for favourable stratospheric wind conditions at 110,000 feet (33.5 km), which is where the balloon will float.

After launch the 18.8-million-cubic-foot (532,000 cubic-metre) SPB will ascend to its float altitude where the stratospheric winds will propel it at speeds up to and exceeding 100 knots on a weeks-long journey around the southern hemisphere.

The primary goal of the flight is to validate and certify the SPB technology, and in particular, the balloon’s capability to pressurise at high altitudes, NASA said. 

Long-duration balloon flights at constant altitudes play an important role in providing inexpensive access to the near-space environment for science and technology. 

NASA’s SPB flights from the southern hemisphere keep the balloon primarily over water and open airspace, which is key for achieving long-duration flight times upward of 100 days.

NASA will announce launch attempts by 2pm if the next day’s forecast weather will support a launch attempt.

The launch can be tracked via a live feed here or here - which includes a map showing the balloon’s real-time location.

On the day of the launch roads around Wānaka Airport will be closed for a maximum of one hour between 7am and 11am. Road blocks will be in place at the junction of State Highway 6 and 8A just north of Luggate, on State Highway 6 north of Stevenson Road, and on Mt Barker Rd just north of the intersection with State Highway 6.

Detours via the Albert Town Bridge and Kane Road will be in place.

This launch is the fourth test launch from Wānaka Airport since NASA began balloon flight operations here in 2015.

NASA conducts SPB launches from New Zealand in collaboration with the Queenstown Airport Corporation, Queenstown Lake District Council, and Airways New Zealand. After this year’s flight, the team plans to return in 2023 for two super pressure balloon flights, each with its own dedicated science mission of opportunity.