Record setting Super-TIGER flight launched from Antarctica – 55 day flight!
Three concurrent simultaneous LDB missions in the air at the same time over Antarctica
Successful deployment test flight in Sweden of a ~18 MCF Super Pressure Balloon
9 balloon flights from 3 locations around the world
100% balloon success with NASA Standard Balloons
2011
Successful test flight of the Wallops Arc Second Pointer (WASP)
Successful 22 day Antarctic flight of a ~14 MCF Super Pressure Balloon
Two launches of the High Altitude Student Platform (HASP)
16 balloon flights from 5 locations around the world
100% balloon success with NASA Standard Balloons
2010
New design of launch head implemented
Qualification flight of a new NASA balloon material
Multiple test launches supporting the Balloon Array for RBSP Relativistic Electron Losses (BARREL) project
11 balloon flights from 3 locations around the world
2009
3 balloons (2 LDB and 1 conventional balloon) aloft simultaneously from 2 continents
New Australian staging building erected to support operations
Completion of a record setting 54 day ~7 MCF Super Pressure Balloon flight
13 balloon flights from 3 locations around the world
100% balloon success with NASA Standard Balloons
2008
14 balloon flights from 2 locations around the world
Successful test flight of a ~2 MCF Super Pressure Balloon
Launch of a record setting ~7 MCF Super Pressure Balloon
2007
New flight systems operation including systems to reduce parachute opening shock, automatic parachute cut
away system, and the Micro Instrumentation Package (MIP)
17 balloon flights from 4 locations around the world
2006
3 LDB flights from Sweden and 2 from Antarctica
National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF) is renamed the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF)
First launch of the High Altitude Student Platform (HASP) which provides annual balloon flights for
student payloads
13 balloon flights from 4 locations around the world
2005
New Antarctic facilities in place for campaign. New expanded facilities include two new staging buildings,
Electronics building, rigging building, galley, and other support buildings and infrastructure.
Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass (CREAM) experiment sets a flight duration record of almost 42 days at float
over Antarctica
Successful drop test to replicate a Mars atmosphere entry parachute deployment
15 balloon flights from 4 locations around the world
2004
Second year with 100% balloon success with NASA Standard Balloons
14 balloon flights from 3 locations around the world
2003
First year with 100% balloon success with NASA Standard Balloons
Loss of Space Shuttle Columbia and the National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF) serves as a staging
ground and focal point for the recovery of debris
2002
Successful aerial deployment and inflation of packed prototype Mars balloon
Physical Sciences Laboratory(PSL)/New Mexico State University(NMSU) awarded Balloon Operations Contract,
10 year total
1998
First NSBF Northern Hemisphere LDB Circumglobal Mission (2 Missions To Date)
1997
Physical Sciences Laboratory(PSL)/New Mexico State University(NMSU) awarded Balloon Operations Contract, 5
year total
1992
Long Duration Balloon Missions become steady state capability
NASA Standard Balloon Designs implemented
Physical Sciences Laboratory(PSL)/New Mexico State University(NMSU) awarded Balloon Operations Contract ,
5 year total
1990
First NSBF LDB Antarctic Campaign in December
1989
NASA establishes the Long Duration Balloon (LDB) Development Project to provide designs for future LDB
systems to fly in polar regions
1988
46 flights completed this year
A total of 24 flights were supported in 6 campaigns from Alice Springs, Australia to observe supernova
SN1987A over a two year period (1987 and 1988)
Two flights launched from Alice Springs, Australia circle the globe and land in Brazil
1987
Physical Sciences Laboratory(PSL)/New Mexico State University(NMSU) awarded Balloon Operations Contract, 5
year total
Supernova SN1987A occurs and observation flights from Australia launched
Planning started for longer duration balloon flights
1986
Comprehensive Research & Development Program implemented at NASA Wallops flight Facility
1985
Potential of longer duration balloon flights in the Northern Hemisphere documented
In the mid-1980’s a number of new engineering advances were implemented including a new Helium
valve, burst detector, new launch techniques, balloon film improvements, and more.
1984
Balloon Recovery Program implemented in response to balloon reliability issues.
Establishes qualified balloon designs, test program and film qualification standards
1983
NASA establishes the Balloon Program Office at Wallops Flight Facility and assumed management of the
National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF)
NASA Balloon Working Group established
Pre-NASA Management
Program managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through NCAR
Establishment of the National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF) in Palestine, TX
Hundreds of science flights from launch locations around the world
Balloon reliability issues for flights with heavier payloads in the early 1980’s