NASA newly designed Super Pressure Balloon Prototype
On Dec. 28, 2008 from McMurdo Station. This Prototype Balloon was launched.
"This seven-million-cubic-foot super-pressure balloon is the largest single-cell, super-pressure, fully-sealed balloon ever flown. When development ends, NASA will have a 22 million-cubic-foot balloon that can carry a one-ton instrument to an altitude of more than 110,000 feet, which is 3-4 times higher than passenger planes fly."
This image, was captured by a telescope. Balloon are cheaper than satellites and the payload can be recycled.
Image URL http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/307077main_superpressureballoonatflight_full.jpg
