Balloon Program Office
The primary objective of the NASA Balloon Program is to provide high altitude
balloon platforms for scientific and technological investigations of fundamental
aspects of our understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe.
Scientific balloons also provide a platform for demonstrating new instrument
and spacecraft technologies that will enable or enhance the objectives of the strategic plans of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
The Balloon Program provides low-cost access to the stratosphere at near-space
altitudes up to ~50 km (~160,000 ft) to support scientific investigations that are
restricted in resources and in time. Its dedicated facility, the Columbia Scientific
Balloon Facility in Palestine, TX, supports between 15 and 25 flights per annum.
Other flights may launch from Fort Sumner, NM and Lynn Lake, Canada. Long
duration balloon flights launch from McMurdo in Antarctica, Kiruna in Sweden,
Alice Springs in Australia and Wanaka in New Zealand. See Chapter 6 and the
section immediately below on the NSBF/CSBF.
The current Chief of the Balloon Program Office is Debora Fairbrother and her
deputy is David Gregory. For more information; go to:
https://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code820/
9.1.2 National/Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF/CSBF)
History
In June 1960 the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) set
up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). One of the missions
of NCAR was specified as: “To provide, cooperate in providing, or arrange for and
support the provision of national facilities for atmospheric research in such fields
as ballooning, research aircraft, rockets, large-capacity computers, micrometeorological networks, etc.”
Dr. Walter Orr Roberts, Director of NCAR and principal officer of UCAR
called a meeting in December 1960 in which government and university representatives discussed scientific ballooning and it was decided that NCAR should
establish a Balloon Engineering Group and appoint the Panel on Scientific Use of
Balloons. Dr. Roberts began by recruiting a staff for the Balloon Engineering
Group from within NCAR. Mr. Vincent E. Lally became the head of the group in
June 1961, and a small number of engineers and technicians formed the nucleus.
The National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF) was created in Boulder, CO in
1961 under the auspices of the National Science Foundation. After investigating
possible sites in conjunction with the U.S. Weather Bureau and the FAA, NCAR
made the final selection on March 26, 1962 and submitted its recommendation to
the NSF. In April the NSF negotiated a base agreement with the City of Palestine,
TX for an area adjacent to the Palestine Airport. The initial construction included
9.1 Scientific Organizations 197
The primary objective of the NASA Balloon Program is to provide high altitude
balloon platforms for scientific and technological investigations of fundamental
aspects of our understanding of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe.
Scientific balloons also provide a platform for demonstrating new instrument
and spacecraft technologies that will enable or enhance the objectives of the strategic plans of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
The Balloon Program provides low-cost access to the stratosphere at near-space
altitudes up to ~50 km (~160,000 ft) to support scientific investigations that are
restricted in resources and in time. Its dedicated facility, the Columbia Scientific
Balloon Facility in Palestine, TX, supports between 15 and 25 flights per annum.
Other flights may launch from Fort Sumner, NM and Lynn Lake, Canada. Long
duration balloon flights launch from McMurdo in Antarctica, Kiruna in Sweden,
Alice Springs in Australia and Wanaka in New Zealand. See Chapter 6 and the
section immediately below on the NSBF/CSBF.
The current Chief of the Balloon Program Office is Debora Fairbrother and her
deputy is David Gregory. For more information; go to:
https://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code820/
9.1.2 National/Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF/CSBF)
History
In June 1960 the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) set
up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). One of the missions
of NCAR was specified as: “To provide, cooperate in providing, or arrange for and
support the provision of national facilities for atmospheric research in such fields
as ballooning, research aircraft, rockets, large-capacity computers, micrometeorological networks, etc.”
Dr. Walter Orr Roberts, Director of NCAR and principal officer of UCAR
called a meeting in December 1960 in which government and university representatives discussed scientific ballooning and it was decided that NCAR should
establish a Balloon Engineering Group and appoint the Panel on Scientific Use of
Balloons. Dr. Roberts began by recruiting a staff for the Balloon Engineering
Group from within NCAR. Mr. Vincent E. Lally became the head of the group in
June 1961, and a small number of engineers and technicians formed the nucleus.
The National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF) was created in Boulder, CO in
1961 under the auspices of the National Science Foundation. After investigating
possible sites in conjunction with the U.S. Weather Bureau and the FAA, NCAR
made the final selection on March 26, 1962 and submitted its recommendation to
the NSF. In April the NSF negotiated a base agreement with the City of Palestine,
TX for an area adjacent to the Palestine Airport. The initial construction included
9.1 Scientific Organizations 197