LDB Launch

One of the projects that NASA runs down here is called the LDB or Long Duration Balloon project. A couple times a year they launch these massive balloons that carry science payloads that weight up to 8,000lbs high up in the stratosphere. Because of some atmospheric vortex type thing the balloons actually stay more or less overhead even though they fly as high as 26 miles up. They only partially fill the balloon but as it rises the pressure change causes the helium to expand until it fills up completely. Even with the balloon only partial filled it still has over 52 million cubic feet of helium in it. The balloon is made of 16 acres of .0008 inch thick plastic film, 26 miles of seams, with a diameter of 518 feet. From the payload to the top of the balloon it is more than 900 feet long. I didn't hear this from a scientist but someone said that once it's full the balloon is as big as the Superdome. It can stay aloft for up to 3 weeks. After the experiments are over the flight controllers send a signal that opens some valves that start releasing helium. At a predetermined altitude they send another command that fires an explosive charge that cuts the payload away from the balloon. It deploys a parachute and takes about 45 minutes to float back to Earth. If all goes well they go out and get it so they can reuse it.

Yesterday they launched the CREST(Cosmic Ray Electron Synchrotron Telescope) balloon so that was kind of cool to see. The LDB launch facility is about 6 miles from here but it's huge so I still got a good view from here. I'll post a couple videos I made.

Here is a link where you can track the balloon and see it's current altitude and location.
http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice.htm

Here is a link about the CREST project. The info looks to be a few years old but still interesting.
http://stratocat.com.ar/fichas-e/2009/FSU-20090505.htm

Here is a video of a different balloon launch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfDkV-p65DI

My videos...