Two More NASA Balloons Remain for Fall Campaign
NASA’s Balloon Program is past the halfway point for the fall campaign in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Four missions have successfully launched from the launch site, with two more lined up in the coming weeks. Hurricane Polo is affecting the upper-level winds near the launch site and the team is evaluating launch opportunities for the […] The post Two More NASA Balloons Remain for Fall Campaign…
NASA’s Balloon Program has reached the midpoint of the fall campaign in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Four missions have successfully launched from the site, with two more scheduled for the upcoming weeks. However, Hurricane Polo is currently impacting upper-level winds near the launch area, prompting the team to evaluate launch opportunities for the Mullenax test flight and a potential reflight of the CORSAIR/WASP mission.
After an aborted attempt on September 19, the CORSAIR/WASP team is assessing how the mission can be refurbished and launched again during the current campaign. The abort occurred when the gondola made impact with the ground shortly after liftoff, with operators concluding the flight once it had ascended high enough for parachute deployment.
Despite the aborted flight, there were no injuries or damage to facility property. The team considers the abort an accepted risk of the program and will investigate it as a technical anomaly.
Written by urgent.news from NASA Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
