NASA’s Antarctic balloon campaign explores dark matter and stratospheric science
text_fields
NASA has launched its annual Antarctic Long-Duration Balloon Campaign from the Ross Ice Shelf near McMurdo Station, embarking on groundbreaking missions to investigate dark matter and other scientific frontiers.
This year’s campaign will deploy two large balloons to carry nine experiments into near-space, with the first launches slated for mid-December.
The initiative, managed by NASA’s Scientific Balloon Program Office at Wallops Flight Facility, is supported by partnerships with the U.S. National Science Foundation, New Zealand, and the U.S. Air Force.
One of the primary missions is the General Anti-Particle Spectrometer (GAPS), led by Columbia University researchers. This experiment aims to detect anti-matter particles potentially linked to dark matter, exploring energy ranges inaccessible from the ground. By operating in the stratosphere, GAPS will provide insights into phenomena shielded by Earth's atmosphere.
Another critical mission, the Salter Test Flight Universal, spearheaded by NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Texas, focuses on assessing the reliability of long-duration balloon systems. This test also supports piggyback experiments, which utilize available space to conduct additional research.
Notable piggyback experiments include the MARSBOx initiative, managed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, which will expose a fungal strain to conditions resembling Mars to study potential astronaut radiation safeguards. Other projects include EMIDSS-6 from Mexico, which collects climate-related data, and NASA’s SPARROW-6, which advances wind measurement technologies.
The campaign uses zero-pressure balloons capable of reaching altitudes above 99.8% of the atmosphere, benefiting from Antarctica’s continuous daylight during summer to extend flight durations. These balloons, fabricated by Aerostar, enable prolonged data collection as they circle the continent. Logistical support is provided by the U.S. Antarctic Program.
With over 1,700 balloon launches conducted globally, NASA continues to leverage high-altitude platforms to push the boundaries of scientific exploration.