• The scintillating optical fiber trajectory (SOFT) hodoscope of the Cosmic
Ray Isotope Spectrometer on the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE)
satellite was demonstrated first by a balloon flight.
• The detectors on the High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI)
mission were first developed and demonstrated with balloon
instruments.
• Instruments carried on balloons all provided heritage to the Microwave
Limb Sounder (MLS), Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES), and
High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) on NASA’s Earth
Observing System (EOS-Aura) satellite.
The demand for NASA balloon flights outstrips the agency’s capacity to launch
them either from mid-latitude sites (e.g. Fort Sumner, Palestine and Wanaka) or
from polar regions (e.g. Antarctica and Sweden). Such is its measure of success.
For a 10 minute video of Balloons on Ice – NASA’s Annual Scientific Balloon
Campaign in Antarctica, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5bBvUNEtrI&feature=emb_rel_pause
This video includes comments by Paul Hertz, NASA’s Director of Astrophysics
and John M. Grunsfeld, former NASA Associate Administrator and astronaut.
8.4 U.S. ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The U.S. leadership in the field of scientific ballooning is the envy of the world.
It started in the 1940’s and 1950’s under the leadership of the Air Force and the
Office of Naval Research. But in the context of this book, the successes can be
attributed first to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) which
was established in 1960 by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
(UCAR). NASA came into existence in 1958, but in its early years it was almost
totally focused on manned spaceflight. Nevertheless some of the NASA Centers
were involved in science and engineering.
The National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF) was established in 1961 but
was under the auspices of the National Science Foundation. It was not until 1983
that NASA took over leadership of the balloon program. The funding came from
the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, overall management
went to the Goddard Space Flight Center and its Wallops Flight Facility, and dayto- day leadership was provided by the Balloon Program Office and its Scientific
Balloon Facility at Palestine, TX.
For the past 60 years or so, credit must be given to all those who supported, and
continue to support, this extremely successful program.
194 Accomplishments
Ray Isotope Spectrometer on the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE)
satellite was demonstrated first by a balloon flight.
• The detectors on the High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI)
mission were first developed and demonstrated with balloon
instruments.
• Instruments carried on balloons all provided heritage to the Microwave
Limb Sounder (MLS), Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES), and
High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) on NASA’s Earth
Observing System (EOS-Aura) satellite.
The demand for NASA balloon flights outstrips the agency’s capacity to launch
them either from mid-latitude sites (e.g. Fort Sumner, Palestine and Wanaka) or
from polar regions (e.g. Antarctica and Sweden). Such is its measure of success.
For a 10 minute video of Balloons on Ice – NASA’s Annual Scientific Balloon
Campaign in Antarctica, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5bBvUNEtrI&feature=emb_rel_pause
This video includes comments by Paul Hertz, NASA’s Director of Astrophysics
and John M. Grunsfeld, former NASA Associate Administrator and astronaut.
8.4 U.S. ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The U.S. leadership in the field of scientific ballooning is the envy of the world.
It started in the 1940’s and 1950’s under the leadership of the Air Force and the
Office of Naval Research. But in the context of this book, the successes can be
attributed first to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) which
was established in 1960 by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
(UCAR). NASA came into existence in 1958, but in its early years it was almost
totally focused on manned spaceflight. Nevertheless some of the NASA Centers
were involved in science and engineering.
The National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF) was established in 1961 but
was under the auspices of the National Science Foundation. It was not until 1983
that NASA took over leadership of the balloon program. The funding came from
the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, overall management
went to the Goddard Space Flight Center and its Wallops Flight Facility, and dayto- day leadership was provided by the Balloon Program Office and its Scientific
Balloon Facility at Palestine, TX.
For the past 60 years or so, credit must be given to all those who supported, and
continue to support, this extremely successful program.
194 Accomplishments