mars balloon experiment

• Space Alliance
• Innovation in our DNA
• Sustainability
• Press Releases
• Talents & Careers

MARSBalloon, an innovative science-based project for young generations, is inspiring future careers in science and space

Students awarded for their scientific curiosity and creativity

Led by space engineers in the UK from Thales Alenia Space, MARSBalloon is a hands-on science project for young students. Its primary goal is to harness young generations' curiosity about the world around them and demonstrate the exciting and varied opportunities in space, engineering and science careers.

The 2023 MARSBalloon mission launched over 200 student designed experiments on a high altitude balloon, reaching over 30km above Earth. During the flight, the experiments encountered Mars-like conditions, with temperatures plummeting to -50°C and pressures 1/100 to those experienced on Earth's surface.

“We were delighted to receive more experiments than ever before – and with so many considered and well-designed experiments the competition for the different awards was incredibly fierce.” Said Drashti Shah, Thales Alenia Space Engineer and MARSBalloon Project Manager.

Winners of the MARSBalloon 2023 mission

Six outstanding winners were recognized for their innovation, engineering talent and creativity: • Llanharam Primary School – Best decorated • Kirkburton First CE School – Innovation award • Fowlmere Primary School – Engineer’s Choice award • St. Bernard’s High School – VIP’s choice award • Beaulieu Convent School – Innovation award • Bexley Grammar School – Engineer’s Choice award

“Congratulations to the winners, and all those who took part in the Thales Alenia Space MARSBalloon project. This is a hugely exciting time to be involved in the space sector which has a fantastic variety of careers on offer right here in the UK. Getting children engaged in fun ways like this can inspire talented young people to consider future careers in science and engineering, to help bring benefits to people on Earth, protect our planet and explore the space above us.” Said Meganne Christian, Reserve Astronaut & Exploration Commercialisation Lead for the UK Space Agency

Noteworthy achievement by St. Bernard’s High School

St. Bernard’s High School in Westcliff-on-Sea secured the VIP award, selected by British ESA Astronaut Reserve Meganne Christian. Students submitted a sample of ancient microbial lifeforms, retrieved from Antarctica during the Scott Discovery expeditions more than a century ago, and provided by London’s Natural History Museum. Working in partnership with the National Orbyts programme and the University College London’s (UCL) Mullard Space Science Laboratory, St. Bernard’s High School was commended for the unique nature of the experiment, the relevance to future exploration of Mars and the historical ties to Captain Scott’s expedition.

“Thales Alenia Space’s MARSBalloon provides a fantastic opportunity for scientists and school groups to work together. We have been thrilled to provide the samples for this work and to support the involvement of the next generation in real scientific experiments, which we are sure will inspire them to engage with science in the future. We cannot imagine what Captain Scott, whose expedition collected the microbial mats in 1902, would think if someone had said his samples would be sent to space to test methods to identify life on Mars!” commented Dr Louisa Preston, Lecturer in Planetary Science, UCL, Mullard Space Science Laboratory and scientific associate of the Natural History Museum.

Towards MARSBalloon 2024

“We are excited to already be planning next year’s mission, and we are hoping that 2024 will, yet again, break more records on the number of schools taking part.” Added Drashti Shah.

Visit www.thalesgroup.com/en/futuremartians. Registrations for 2024 MARSBalloon flight will open in January 2024.

Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly.

Update your browser and your iOS/Android version to view this website correctly.

Covering the business and politics of space

Pioneer Astronautics Experimental Mars Balloon Inflation System Successfully Tested at 116,000 ft.

• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Clipboard (Opens in new window)

The Sept 26 flight test was the culmination of this program. The experiment was lifted to altitude by a 141,000 cubic foot polyethylene balloon, with a smaller 19,000 cubic foot balloon used to decelerate the payload to parachute descent type velocities. The flight string below these balloons was fully redundant, including two GPS transponders, two cameras, and two methanol balloon canisters, as well as a small backup parachute and a radio-direction finding beacon. This highly complex launch string was close to 300 ft long. Launch from the Fatton Ranch near Windsor Colorado was accomplished using the entire Pioneer Astronautics workforce, assisted by the rancher and a group of Mars Society volunteers. Tracking was provided by two mobile GPS/VHF receiver teams, who were also equipped with radio direction finding (RDF) equipment. These were backed up by volunteers from the Boulder-based Deep Space Exploration Society who followed the flight using their 60 ft radio dish.

SEARCH 30,000+ EUROPEAN PRESS RELEASES

Load more...

PRs by Dates

Industries & Countries

• Agriculture (758)
• Albania (31)
• Andorra (3)
• Apparel, Fashion & Beauty (437)
• Art & Culture (711)
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) (485)
• Austria (1,039)
• Automotive (3,220)
• Aviation & Aerospace (1,621)
• Awards (1,821)
• Banks (4,081)
• Belgium (2,160)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (39)
• Bulgaria (120)
• Business (16,744)
• Chemicals (1,406)
• Commodities (90)
• Construction (1,639)
• Croatia (100)
• Cyprus (94)
• Czech Republic (358)
• Defence (960)
• Denmark (937)
• Economy (1,837)
• Education (3,760)
• Electronics & Machinery (1,361)
• Energy, Gas & Oil (5,422)
• Entertainment (987)
• Environment (5,903)
• Estonia (74)
• European Union (3,208)
• Financial (10,399)
• Finland (1,716)
• Food & Beverage (914)
• France (3,812)
• Germany (7,501)
• Government (5,464)
• Greece (216)
• Healthcare (2,571)
• Hungary (176)
• Iceland (72)
• Industrial (12,211)
• Infrastructure & Utilities (4,228)
• Insurance (770)
• International Trade (345)
• Internet & Online (2,525)
• Investment (8,604)
• Ireland (544)
• Italy (1,605)
• Latvia (100)
• Law (1,242)
• Liechtenstein (16)
• Lithuania (110)
• Luxembourg (842)
• Management (12,893)
• Marketing (1,858)
• Media (2,018)
• Metals and Minerals (1,030)
• Moldova (43)
• Monaco (18)
• Montenegro (24)
• Netherlands (1,997)
• News (10,647)
• Non Profit (537)
• North Macedonia (23)
• Norway (1,105)
• Pharma & Biotech (1,299)
• Poland (395)
• Politics (1,438)
• Portugal (332)
• Real Estate (716)
• Religion (43)
• Retail (834)
• Romania (452)
• Russia (535)
• Science (3,220)
• Security & Safety (1,525)
• Serbia (69)
• Slovakia (120)
• Slovenia (97)
• Small Business (884)
• Society (3,032)
• Spain (1,554)
• Sports (882)
• Sweden (2,253)
• Switzerland (2,260)
• Technology (13,000)
• Telecom (2,352)
• Transportation & Logistics (4,375)
• Travel (990)
• Turkey (225)
• Ukraine (209)
• Uncategorized (25)
• United Kingdom (7,144)

Archived PRs

• September 2024  (394)
• August 2024  (394)
• July 2024  (201)
• June 2024  (281)
• May 2024  (417)
• April 2024  (473)
• March 2024  (555)
• February 2024  (552)
• January 2024  (454)
• December 2023  (433)
• November 2023  (558)
• October 2023  (469)
• September 2023  (483)
• August 2023  (447)
• July 2023  (431)
• June 2023  (188)
• May 2023  (273)
• April 2023  (535)
• March 2023  (630)
• February 2023  (330)
• January 2023  (441)
• December 2022  (222)
• November 2022  (189)
• October 2022  (174)
• September 2022  (218)
• August 2022  (139)
• July 2022  (144)
• June 2022  (153)
• May 2022  (146)
• April 2022  (181)
• March 2022  (289)
• February 2022  (320)
• January 2022  (284)
• December 2021  (127)
• November 2021  (113)
• October 2021  (119)
• September 2021  (109)
• August 2021  (94)
• July 2021  (77)
• June 2021  (69)
• May 2021  (77)
• April 2021  (65)
• March 2021  (97)
• February 2021  (89)
• January 2021  (79)
• December 2020  (80)
• November 2020  (92)
• October 2020  (97)
• September 2020  (94)
• August 2020  (74)
• July 2020  (81)
• June 2020  (86)
• May 2020  (77)
• April 2020  (84)
• March 2020  (60)
• February 2020  (51)
• January 2020  (72)
• December 2019  (38)
• November 2019  (45)
• October 2019  (36)
• September 2019  (40)
• August 2019  (47)
• July 2019  (63)
• June 2019  (50)
• May 2019  (71)
• April 2019  (68)
• March 2019  (60)
• February 2019  (86)
• January 2019  (159)
• December 2018  (157)
• November 2018  (238)
• October 2018  (274)
• September 2018  (206)
• August 2018  (236)
• July 2018  (201)
• June 2018  (202)
• May 2018  (225)
• April 2018  (198)
• March 2018  (237)
• February 2018  (223)
• January 2018  (258)
• December 2017  (189)
• November 2017  (236)
• October 2017  (221)
• September 2017  (210)
• August 2017  (242)
• July 2017  (299)
• June 2017  (355)
• May 2017  (249)
• April 2017  (239)
• March 2017  (233)
• February 2017  (195)
• January 2017  (204)
• December 2016  (202)
• November 2016  (227)
• October 2016  (213)
• September 2016  (238)
• August 2016  (223)
• July 2016  (203)
• June 2016  (190)
• May 2016  (223)
• April 2016  (210)
• March 2016  (215)
• February 2016  (207)
• January 2016  (178)
• December 2015  (205)
• November 2015  (208)
• October 2015  (207)
• September 2015  (220)
• August 2015  (257)
• July 2015  (204)
• June 2015  (183)
• May 2015  (201)
• April 2015  (229)
• March 2015  (245)
• February 2015  (213)
• January 2015  (193)
• December 2014  (182)
• November 2014  (194)
• October 2014  (234)
• September 2014  (239)
• August 2014  (190)
• July 2014  (193)
• June 2014  (192)
• May 2014  (208)
• April 2014  (211)
• March 2014  (209)
• February 2014  (192)
• January 2014  (213)
• December 2013  (167)
• November 2013  (193)
• October 2013  (230)
• September 2013  (212)
• August 2013  (314)
• July 2013  (518)
• June 2013  (407)
• May 2013  (424)
• April 2013  (417)
• March 2013  (507)
• February 2013  (752)
• January 2013  (542)
• December 2012  (564)
• November 2012  (670)
• October 2012  (365)
• July 2012  (1)
• European Investment Fund Supports Icelandic SMEs with Up to €100 Million in New Funding via Arion Bank
• Shell’s Holland Hydrogen 1 to Connect to High-Voltage Grid in Collaboration with TenneT and Port of Rotterdam
• Swissport Strengthens Board with Former Kuehne+Nagel CEO Detlef Trefzger to Drive Global Expansion
• Metso Partners with BSIET to Deliver Advanced Iron Ore Pelletizing Plant for Ruifeng, Supporting China’s Decarbonization Goals
• SolarLab Secures EUR 1.6 Million Nefco Loan to Boost Production and Expand in the U.S.
• Patent Victory: NORMA Group Wins Case Against Chinese Competitor Over Innovative Hose Clamp Technology
• EY Report Predicts Radical Shift in Financial Controller Role Towards Value Creation and Innovation
• Vattenfall Names Johan Dasht as New Senior Vice President for Business Area Generation
• Lille Secures €276 Million for Sustainable Transport Revolution: EIB and European Commission Fund Green Mobility Initiative
• Perovskia Solar Powers Up IoT Sector with New Funding and Innovative Solar Technology
• Driving Change: Hydro and Mercedes-Benz Launch Ambitious Amazon Sustainability Initiative
• Eviden Selected by CFL to Upgrade Railway Communication Systems for Enhanced Safety and Efficiency
• Eviden Secures RATP Contract to Enhance Metro Communication with TETRA Technology
• Schroders Solutions Chosen by Merseyside Pension Fund for £3.8 Billion Equity Protection Initiative
• Hanwha Ocean’s Rotor Sail Technology Receives Certification from DNV for Hazardous Zone Installation
• BNP Paribas Expands Wealth Management Footprint in Germany by Acquiring HSBC’s Private Banking Division
• Ahold Delhaize Repurchased 250,000 Shares as Part of €1 Billion Buyback Program
• Energiekontor and Salzgitter Flachstahl Sign Pioneering Power Purchase Agreements for Solar Energy in Germany
• Knorr-Bremse AG Launches 1.1 Billion Euro Bond, Paving the Way for Sustainable Investment
• ArcelorMittal Unveils AM/NS India’s Expansion Plans to Meet India’s Surging Steel Demand
• Aviva Leaders Recognized in 2024 HERoes Role Model Lists for Championing Gender Diversity and Inclusion
• wpd Highlights Global Growth and Wind Energy Expansion at WindEnergy 2024
• Ramboll Joins UN Green Jobs Pact, Pledges to Train 1,000 Young Professionals for Low-Carbon Economy by 2025
• voestalpine Railway Systems Showcases Digital Innovations at InnoTrans 2024, Supports Major Global Rail Projects
• Top African Venture Capital Leaders Recognized for Transforming Start-up Ecosystem at Oxford Programme
• University of York Academics Celebrated Among World’s Top-Cited Scientists in New Global Rankings
• Krka Strengthens Commitment to Sustainability with Car-Free Day and Electric Truck Initiative
• Eviden and Selartag Launch Advanced Wine Inventory System Powered by AWS Cloud

POPULAR TAGS

• EPR Network, LLC.
• EuropaWire @ Facebook
• EuropaWire @ Feedburner
• EuropaWire @ Flipboard
• EuropaWire @ Pinterest
• EuropaWire @ Twitter
• EuropaWire GPT
• Express Press Release Distribution
• Free Press Release Distribution
• Real Time PR Distribution
• Travel PR News

Privacy Overview

Search UKspace

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Not a member?

Members can be introduced to industry, finance, government and key contacts in Europe.

Further benefits include networking at our industry events and access to technical support and advice.

Find out more

MARSBalloon Project 2020 launched for school students and science clubs

23 January 2020 – Thales Alenia Space has launched its exciting 2020 MARSBalloon project for school students and science clubs to carry out Mars-analogue science experiments without having to put on a spacesuit!

In June 2020, the balloon will carry over 100 student experiments to an altitude of 30km, more than twice the height of commercial airliners, where they will be above 99% of Earth’s atmosphere. Along the way, the experiments will experience conditions very similar to the surface of Mars including temperatures of -50°C, pressures 1/100th that of sea level and an increased radiation dose.

This allows students to test the response of electronics, materials, plants and even food to the conditions outside of a future Mars base, helping future explorers to prepare for this strange and hostile environment. The whole flight lasts approximately four hours and the MARSBalloon team will chase after the balloon to recover the experiments after landing, allowing them to be returned to the students for analysis.

The MARSBalloon project is supported by Thales UK and run by enthusiastic STEM supporters from  Thales Alenia Space , that will test student ideas for technologies that could one day be destined for Mars.

The aim is to test anything that humans or robots will be doing on Mars in the future.

This project is open to any school in the UK. There is no cost to take part in the project other than that of experiment materials and postage.

Full details about MARSBalloon 2020

Register for MARSBalloon 2020 before 3 April 2020 and reserve a place in the balloon

Previous Post

Space placement in industry (spin): award scheme 2020, esa and airbus sign contract for bartolomeo platform on iss.

• Skip Navigation

  CONTACT US HOMEPAGE: www.nasa.gov/flightopportunities →

• Maturation Objectives

The Mars Electric Flyer Balloon Drop Experiment will drop a ~2kg glider from a helium balloon at approximately 100,000ft to validate natural aerodynamic stability and aero damping, aero performance in a relevant environment and performance of avionics, command and telemetry for follow-on powered hover testing. The aerodynamic and control data gathered from this balloon flight will provide key information needed for the final design of the Mars mission flight vehicle.

• TA04 Robotics, Tele-Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Mars atmospheric flight vehicle technologies that will allow autonomous repeated flights with a rechargeable electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Technologies include: lightweight structures and propulsion, autonomous inner and outer loop flight control with no global positioning system, and advanced aerodynamic design for low-pressure, low-Reynolds number flight. High thrust / low weight vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that have the required aerodynamic design for the low pressure, low Reynolds number environment do not exist. Focused design and testing of airframes, control systems, propulsion systems in a relevant environment to meet the specific set of requirements is needed to realize the Mars flight mission.

The high altitude balloon drop model test will provide key aerodynamic and control information on the proposed Mars flight vehicle. The data will be used to update simulations and inform possible improvements in the design. A drop model will be lofted to a 105,000 ft. altitude and released. The glider will fly autonomously through predetermined GPS waypoints and will fly at specific flight speeds to gather aerodynamic performance data on the airframe. The high altitude low pressure environment

NASA Science Mission Directorate and NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate.

Technology Details

• Selection Date NASA Directed
• Program Status Active
• Current TRL ( ? ) Unknown

Development Team

• Organization NASA/Langley Research Center
• Sponsor NASA
• Partners Old Dominion University William and Mary College NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center

Web Accessibility and Privacy Notices Curator: Alexander van Dijk Responsible NASA Official: Stephan Ord Last Update: November 16, 2018

Press ESC to close

MARSBalloon 2021

Last week, Thales UK and Thales Alenia Space announced their MARSBalloon 2021 project. They plan to launch more than 150 experiment capsules on high altitude balloons 30km up into the Earth’s atmosphere in June 2021. At those altitudes, the gas pressure, temperature and radiation are very similar to those on the surface of Mars. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this project is that UK students will fill those experiment capsules. School students and science clubs can carry out Mars-analogue science experiments, with no costs beyond materials and postage. The only catch? It has to fit into a plastic Kinder Egg™ capsule.

This is the eighth annual MARSBalloon project run by a team of enthusiastic graduate space engineers. It is supported by Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut in space, the perfect space exploration ambassador.

Students can work together to create experiments using anything that will fit inside the capsule – electronics, materials, seeds, and even food. In previous years, experiments have tested the effect of Martian conditions on rubber bands, ink, memory sticks and 3D printed materials.

Over the course of about an hour, the balloon and its experiment load will ascend to 30km, more than twice the height of commercial airliners. The experiments will experience conditions very similar to the surface of Mars, including temperatures as low as -50°C. When the balloon finally bursts, a parachute will bring the experiment tray back down to Earth. Each experiment will be returned to its student researchers for analysis.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by marsballoon (@mars.balloon)

There’s clearly a lot of budding astrobotanists in the UK.

In 2019, the Engineer’s Choice Award for the Primary School age group went to Borras Park Primary (Wrexham, Wales), for “Growing a sunflower”. Although this was a simple experiment, the judges were impressed with the report this school provided, which was very well thought out and presented.

And the Engineer’s Choice Award for the Secondary School age group went to Beaulieu Convent School (Jersey), for “Differences in Rhizobium in plant nodules”. The judges said that investigating the effects of the flight on seeds is always a popular choice. However, this school sent seeds to compare any difference in the rhizobium in the nodules, crucial for nitrogen fixation in the soil. This is very similar to the Magnitude.io  ExoLab-8 experiment  that’s currently on the ISS.

Registrations on the MARSBalloon project are open until  1st April 2021 .

If, like me, you’re too old to get involved in MARSBallon 2021, console yourself by reading about  stratospheric seeds  and some ridiculous things that have been sent ‘into space’ on balloons.

Unless otherwise stated, © Copyright Emma Doughty 2024. Published on theunconventionalgardener.com.

Share Article:

Fermentation in space, 2021 garden plan.

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Available downloads, related records.

May 7, 2024

Meet HELIX, the High-Altitude Balloon That May Solve a Deep Cosmic Mystery

Every now and then, tiny particles of antimatter strike Earth from cosmic parts unknown. A new balloon-borne experiment launching this spring may at last find their source

By Rachel Berkowitz

An illustration of a high-altitude balloon afloat in Earth’s upper atmosphere.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab/Michael Lentz

This spring NASA will launch what could become one of this decade’s most transformative missions in astrophysics. But you’ve almost certainly never heard of it—and it’s not even going to space. Dubbed the High-Energy Light Isotope eXperiment (HELIX), the mission seeks to solve a long-standing mystery about just how much antimatter there is in the universe and where it comes from—all from a lofty perch in Earth’s stratosphere, slung beneath a giant balloon set for long-duration flights above each of our planet’s desolate poles.

Led by Scott Wakely, an astrophysicist at the University of Chicago, HELIX is designed to study cosmic rays—subatomic particles that pelt our planet from the depths of interstellar and even intergalactic space . These particles include those of ordinary matter’s opposite-charge version , called antimatter. Scientists suspect the sources for the antimatter showering Earth from space could be almost anything , ranging from emissions by conventional astrophysical objects to the esoteric behavior of dark matter, the invisible stuff that seems to govern the large-scale behavior of galaxies. Figuring out which explanation is right may depend on a deceptively simple measurement: gauging how much time each of two specific particles spent hurtling through the galaxy. It’s like carbon-dating cosmic rays. “The models are all over the place. A measurement of this ratio is what everybody wants,” says Nahee Park, an astrophysicist at Queen’s University in Ontario and a member of the HELIX team.

Most cosmic rays are protons and light atomic nuclei that are thought to be accelerated by shock waves from supernova explosions within the galaxy. Others are produced when these nuclei collide with interstellar gas as they travel. But another particle—the antimatter counterpart of the electron, called the positron—presents a puzzle: observations since 2008 have repeatedly concluded that there are more positrons than can be explained by known phenomena. Astrophysicists have proposed models to explain where these particles came from and what interactions they encountered in the Milky Way. HELIX is designed to measure a parameter that could rule out some speculations about antimatter and cosmic-ray origins.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing . By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Traditional models of the galaxy postulate a magnetized region, or “halo,” that extends beyond the Milky Way’s starry disk and influences cosmic-ray travel paths. But these models cannot easily account for observed antimatter levels. To bridge this gap, researchers posit an additional as-yet-unknown positron source lurking somewhere out there. One possibility is that dark matter is a sea of slowly moving heavy particles, and their annihilation or decay could be the source of the mysterious positron excess. Another is that the positrons could come from outbursts from undiscovered local pulsars—the rapidly rotating versions of stellar corpses called neutron stars—in our arm of the galaxy. An alternative explanation is that if particles spend more time within the halo, the observed antimatter flux can be caused by positron-producing collisions with interstellar gas, without the need for any additional astrophysical source. The crux of the debate lies in estimates of how long cosmic rays spend within the galaxy and predictions of which ones—and how many of them—find their way to Earth. These numbers, in turn, are proxies for the size of the galaxy’s halo, whose extent evades measurement using existing techniques. The halo’s size influences the detectable flux of positrons on Earth.

Cosmic-ray-propagation models start with the set of products created when atoms with heavier nuclei, such as carbon, crash into a proton or a helium nucleus. Such reactions can chip off part of the nucleus, resulting in lighter elements, such as beryllium. “When the starting gun goes off, you have some mix of [beryllium] isotopes,” says David Hanna, a physicist at McGill University and a member of the HELIX team, referring to beryllium varieties that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. The mixture that reaches detectors on Earth, however, depends on how long the isotopes spend in transit and what happens to them on their way. Because one of the beryllium isotopes that the scientists are looking for is radioactive, it serves as a “cosmic clock” that traces the time spent in the galaxy from production to detection: While beryllium 9 ( 9 Be) is stable, beryllium 10 ( 10 Be) decays to half its original amount over 1.4 million years. Measuring the ratio of 10 Be to 9 Be thus gives a timescale of how much time cosmic rays spend in the galaxy.

Every Particle Counts

The HELIX team is preparing to measure the beryllium isotope ratio from 120,000 feet in the atmosphere during its first-ever flight, which will occur north of the Arctic Circle. The researchers’ goal is to count each high-energy particle that reaches the detector. HELIX will use a strong magnet to deflect each particle’s path and, from the curvature of its trajectory through the magnetic field, calculate its momentum. Another detector will measure the particles’ speed, allowing the team to determine each one’s mass and identity. The detectors have been specially designed for lightweight particles (that is, those with an atomic number below 10; beryllium’s atomic number is 4, for instance) with energies up to 10 giga-electron-volts per nucleon (GeV/n)—the amount of energy that a grain of sand would have falling from a centimeter height. But for a tiny atomic particle hurtling through space, that’s a huge amount of energy. The flux of these lightweight, high-energy particles is where competing models diverge in their predictions. “The measurements get harder and harder as you go to higher energies,” Park says. It’s a numbers game: Because fewer high-energy particles reach Earth, determining their flux is harder. And because their trajectory bends less, determining their momentum is harder, too.

To obtain maximum bending power—and therefore improved momentum resolution—HELIX uses a superconducting magnet. But this isn’t without its drawbacks. Superconductivity requires cryogenically cold temperatures; in Park’s words, superconducting magnets “drink liquid helium.” That makes them nonstarters for long-duration space missions, where replenishing the liquid helium is very costly or impossible—but the approach works well for balloon flights of days or weeks, where resupply is easier. The trade-off is that space-based experiments such as NASA’s Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) offer much longer observation times well above the bulk of Earth’s atmosphere, whereas HELIX and other balloon-borne stratospheric experiments have shorter observation windows, with their view somewhat muddied by our planet’s cosmic-ray-blocking air.

Seeking the best of both worlds, the original plan for AMS-02 had included a superconducting magnet, but it was replaced with a permanent one that requires no power—like a fridge-door magnet. This magnet allows for a longer duration but has a much weaker field. “We realized the weaker field provided a scientific opportunity for [beryllium] if we could find a superconducting magnet,” Wakely says. That realization led to the birth of HELIX.

HELIX uses the same superconducting magnet that the balloon-borne High-Energy Antimatter Telescope (HEAT) experiment carried in 2000. But the similarities end there. Every other element of the payload is brand-new and designed specifically for HELIX, allowing the experiment to distinguish between beryllium isotopes on a particle-by-particle basis. “We want to say, ‘This particle was [beryllium 9]; that one was [beryllium 10].’ That’s the thing that, as far as we know, nobody else can do right now,” Wakely says. Having that ratio of 10 Be to 9 Be could prove crucial for clarifying where cosmic antimatter comes from.

Carmelo Evoli, an astrophysicist at the Gran Sasso Science Institute in Italy, says that HELIX’s design “specificity sets it apart from large, multipurpose experiments like AMS-02.” AMS-02 measures the flux of particles across the energy spectrum, including the total amount of beryllium, with good precision. But it cannot distinguish between individual isotopes: their mass is too similar for the AMS-02 hardware to reliably discern them. Yet that experiment’s venerable age can be beneficial in other ways: “While HELIX is designed to have a better mass resolution, AMS-02 has already collected 12 years of data,” says Alberto Oliva, a senior physicist at AMS-02. This vast dataset should allow for differentiation between isotopes using statistical tools. But, Hanna says, “that’s nothing like seeing them separated. It’s like looking at two stars blurred together versus using a telescope that shows each one.”

In January HELIX passed its “hang test” at NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Tex., proving it could communicate with NASA data transmitters, antennas and other infrastructure that are crucial to the mission. It’s now ready for a weeks-long launch window from Kiruna, Sweden, that will open on May 15. The balloon will carry HELIX for roughly a week before it touches down somewhere in northern Canada. The team would be thrilled to bring home clean data that could differentiate the isotopes at the lower end of the targeted energy spectrum. But unforeseen effects, such as heavier-than-expected showers of other nonberyllium cosmic rays, could compromise the measurements. “Not quite getting the resolution you wanted would be painful,” Wakely says.

If everything goes as planned, the next step will be a two-week flight over Antarctica to collect enough data to measure particles with an energy of 3 GeV/n. “You need to be up high for as long as possible to get enough of these rare particles,” Park says. Eventually, with upgraded instruments, a 28-day flight could make measurements of beryllium isotopes at up to 10 GeV/n. Hopefully this will suffice to establish the critical transit time through the galaxy for these particles and a clue to their origin.

We’re lucky to have beryllium. Its lifetime is perfect for exploring the local galaxy: if it were 10 times longer, it would be good for exploring a larger region; if it were 10 times shorter, it would disappear too fast to reach us. “The HELIX mission emerges as a critical player” for helping to illuminate the mysteries of antimatter and all cosmic-ray behavior in the Milky Way, Evoli says. For the first time, an experiment is strategically poised to resolve the discrepancies between divergent predictions, offering unprecedented insights into the fundamental processes that govern cosmic-ray transport across the galaxy’s vast expanse.

But for now “we’re just hoping for a nice flight,” Wakely says.

Search form

Last chance to register for a trip to mars.

Share this article

Are you interested in Martian Science? MARSBalloon is an exciting project for school students and budding space scientists to carry out experiments equivalent to visiting the surface of our closest planetary neighbour – all without pulling on a spacesuit. 

The MARSBalloon will carry over 150 experiments to an altitude of 30km, more than twice the height of commercial airliners, where they will be above 99 per cent of Earth’s atmosphere. Along the way they will experience conditions very similar to those on Mars, including temperatures of -50°C and pressures 1/100th of sea level.

This allows students to test the response of electronics, materials, plants and even food, to the conditions outside of a future Mars base, helping explorers prepare for this strange and hostile environment. 

After approximately one hour, the balloon will burst and the experiments will return to Earth via parachute. The experiments are then returned to participants to analyse the results. 

There is still time to register your interest and reserve a space on the flight, with entries closing on 31 March. You’ll then have until late May to design and deliver your experiment, with the launch taking place in early June. 

Commenting on the latest iteration of the MARSBalloon launch, Andrew Stanniland, CEO of Thales Alenia Space in the UK said:

Ever since the MARSBalloon project launched, I have constantly been astounded by the quality of the experiments, as well as the fabulously imaginative designs.

“I can’t wait to see what the 2023 participants come up with, and I’m certain this experience will excite them about space and open their eyes to the many opportunities that exist within STEM subjects!"

“I would encourage all schools who might be interested to register their interest before the shuttle doors close at the end of the month.” 

Some of the experiments from previous years include testing how medical products would survive on Mars, the temperature and pressure effects on building materials and how radiation impacts electronics.

Entry is available to any school or youth group nationally, and aims to give students a practical experience of designing objects to go into space, as well as considering careers in the UK space and other tech industries. 

Free to register and participate, with schools and groups only needing to cover the cost of their experiments, entrances are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. Visit thalesgroup.com/futuremartians to sign up.

Suggested Searches

• Climate Change
• Expedition 64
• Mars perseverance
• SpaceX Crew-2
• International Space Station
• View All Topics A-Z

Humans in Space

Earth & climate, the solar system, the universe, aeronautics, learning resources, news & events.

Arctic Sea Ice Near Historic Low; Antarctic Ice Continues Decline

Hubble Lights the Way with New Multiwavelength Galaxy View

What’s Up: September 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA

• Search All NASA Missions
• A to Z List of Missions
• Upcoming Launches and Landings
• Spaceships and Rockets
• Communicating with Missions
• James Webb Space Telescope
• Hubble Space Telescope
• Why Go to Space
• Commercial Space
• Destinations
• Living in Space
• Explore Earth Science
• Earth, Our Planet
• Earth Science in Action
• Earth Multimedia
• Earth Science Researchers
• Pluto & Dwarf Planets
• Asteroids, Comets & Meteors
• The Kuiper Belt
• The Oort Cloud
• Skywatching
• The Search for Life in the Universe
• Black Holes
• The Big Bang
• Dark Energy & Dark Matter
• Earth Science
• Planetary Science
• Astrophysics & Space Science
• The Sun & Heliophysics
• Biological & Physical Sciences
• Lunar Science
• Citizen Science
• Astromaterials
• Aeronautics Research
• Human Space Travel Research
• Science in the Air
• NASA Aircraft
• Flight Innovation
• Supersonic Flight
• Air Traffic Solutions
• Green Aviation Tech
• Drones & You
• Technology Transfer & Spinoffs
• Space Travel Technology
• Technology Living in Space
• Manufacturing and Materials
• Science Instruments
• For Kids and Students
• For Educators
• For Colleges and Universities
• For Professionals
• Science for Everyone
• Requests for Exhibits, Artifacts, or Speakers
• STEM Engagement at NASA
• NASA's Impacts
• Centers and Facilities
• Directorates
• Organizations
• People of NASA
• Internships
• Our History
• Doing Business with NASA
• Get Involved

NASA en Español

• Aeronáutica
• Ciencias Terrestres
• Sistema Solar
• All NASA News
• Video Series on NASA+
• Newsletters
• Social Media
• Media Resources
• Upcoming Launches & Landings
• Virtual Guest Program
• Image of the Day
• Sounds and Ringtones
• Interactives
• STEM Multimedia

New Video Series Spotlights Engineers on NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission

Celebrating 10 Years at Mars with NASA’s MAVEN Mission

What You Need to Know about NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Mission

Educational activities in space.

NASA Astronaut Tracy C. Dyson’s Scientific Mission aboard Space Station

Station Science Top News: September 13, 2024

NASA’s Eyes for Museums

NASA Analysis Shows Irreversible Sea Level Rise for Pacific Islands

Oct. 2 Annular Solar Eclipse

In Odd Galaxy, NASA’s Webb Finds Potential Missing Link to First Stars

2024 SARP West Closeout

Girls in STEM Inspired to Fly High at NASA Kennedy

ARMD Solicitations

Students Soar at NASA Glenn’s Aviation Day

NASA’s Record-Breaking Laser Demo Completes Mission

Amendment 52: B.9 Low-Cost Access to Space 2028 Peruvian campaign Update

Amendment 51: F.13 Lunar Terrain Vehicle Instruments Program Final Text and Due Dates.

NASA Moon to Mars Architecture Art Challenge

Bring NASA Into Your Classroom This Fall Through Virtual Experiences

How Do I Navigate NASA Learning Resources and Opportunities?

NASA Helps Build New Federal Sea Level Rise Website

NASA Expands Small Business, Industry Engagement Resources

La NASA invita a los medios al lanzamiento de Europa Clipper

El X-59 de la NASA avanza en las pruebas de preparación para volar

La NASA invita a creadores de las redes sociales al lanzamiento de la misión Europa Clipper

Microbes survive balloon ride to mars-like habitat in the sky.

Rachel Hoover

Editor’s note: This feature was updated Feb. 23 to clarify the shutters opened before reaching an altitude of about 24 miles, or 127,000 feet. 

If any Earthling microbes were to  stow away  onboard a spacecraft to Mars, their odds of surviving the trip and the conditions on the surface would be slim. But with an estimated one trillion species of microbes on Earth, and some of them capable of enduring extreme conditions, scientists want to test if any common microorganisms could actually persist on a Mars mission, and if so, what makes them so tough? 

The question is more than academic. NASA is keen to ensure spacecraft don’t accidentally contaminate the Red Planet if we’re ever to discover whether Martian life exists. Fortunately, scientists don’t have to risk going all the way to Mars to get some answers. 

About 20 miles above Earth’s surface is a layer of atmosphere that resembles the Martian surface in some key ways. With high levels of radiation, low air pressure, coldness, and dryness, this region can be used as a kind of Martian laboratory in the sky.

“If a microbe can hack it up there, above much of the protective ozone layer, it just might be able to survive – however briefly – on a journey to the surface of Mars,” said David J. Smith, a researcher who studies  life in airborne environments  at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. 

Smith and a team of collaborating international scientists tested out the durability of life in these extreme conditions by launching a variety of boxed-up microorganisms on a large scientific balloon high into the stratosphere. The Microbes in Atmosphere for Radiation, Survival, and Biological Outcomes Experiment, or MARSBOx, included four different species – the most diverse stratosphere test group yet – including dried and dormant bacteria and fungal spores. Results from the research, recently published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, found that two of the four types of microorganisms could temporarily withstand these harsh conditions.

“This research gives us a better understanding of which microbes could linger in environments once assumed to be lethal, like the surface of Mars, and gives us clues about how to avoid unintentionally bringing tiny hitchhikers with us to off-world destinations,” said Ralf Moeller, head of the  Aerospace Microbiology Research Group  at the German Aerospace Center, or DLR, in Cologne, Germany, and the co-principal investigator of MARSBOx along with Smith.

The Flight and Findings 

With no jet or rocket engine roar, on the morning of Sept. 23, 2019, a large NASA scientific balloon calmly and quietly soared into the sky from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, with MARSBOx and millions of tiny, well-secured microbial passengers onboard. Before flight, the samples were adhered onto special quartz discs inside aluminum boxes, designed by collaborators at DLR. The boxes were then filled with a special mixture of gases that mimic the makeup of the thin Martian atmosphere, which is almost entirely made of carbon dioxide. 

During the balloon’s ascent and descent, specially designed MARSBOx payload shutters ensured the microbes were shielded in darkness, thereby protecting the samples from harmful solar ultraviolet radiation during their journey to and from the stratosphere. On their way to their destination of an altitude of about 24 miles, or 127,000 feet, the shutters opened to expose them to the more intense radiative environment at the edge of space. For more than five hours, the microbes were not only exposed to radiation, but also temperatures that averaged -20 degrees Fahrenheit and extremely dry air that was a thousand times less pressure than at sea level. After returning to Earth, DLR scientists then studied the specimens in the lab and found that two of the four species had survived. 

Secrets to Survival 

Why were these microbes able to endure the combined stressors of the MARSBOx flight in ways the others could not? Survivors included spores of Aspergillus niger ,  which is a common environmental fungus that can be used to produce a wide range of useful compounds including antibiotics.

“Spores from the A. niger fungus are incredibly resistant – to heat, harsh chemicals, and other stressors – but no one had ever studied whether they could survive exposed in space or under intense radiation like we see on Mars,” said Marta Cortesão, microbiologist at DLR and co-lead author of the first MARSBOx study. “The fact that after their MARSBOx flight we could revive them demonstrates they are hearty enough to endure wherever humans go, even off-planet.”

Scientists theorize these fungal spores were able to withstand desiccation and high radiation by having pigmentation that acts as a sort of sunscreen, or perhaps a structural feature in the architecture of cell membranes that protects their vulnerable insides, much like layers of clothing can protect people from the bitter cold.

The other microbial survivor was the rarer, but harmless bacteria Salinisphaera shabanensis, chosen to fly because of its ability to thrive in Earth’s extremely salty deep-sea brine pools. Some scientists believe possible briny spots on the Red Planet could be promising locations to search for evidence of ancient microbial life. 

“This experiment raises a lot of questions about what genetic mechanisms are key to making microbes able to survive,” said Cortesão. “Do they carry ancient evolutionary traits that provide them the ability to withstand harsh conditions, or does the adaptation to their current environment provide protection for many other environmental challenges?”   

What Lies Ahead Is Overhead

Scientists hope with further analysis and future experimentation they can determine which genes or genetic mutations are responsible for the survival outcomes and begin to place these microbes on a spectrum of survivability – from most resilient to most sensitive.

In the meantime, the MARSBOx team is completing an analysis of the data from its first-ever onboard dosimeter, also led by the participating DLR scientists, a device that can measure the amount of ionizing radiation the microorganisms were exposed to in-flight. This information will help them tie together the readings from other onboard instruments with the damaging effects of energetic radiation on the microbes. They expect to publish their dosimetry findings later this year.

And in the next few years, the MARSBOx team plans to launch a follow-on flight test from Antarctica, where due to windows in Earth’s protective magnetosphere, the amount of high-energy  galactic cosmic rays  from space and ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is even closer to Mars-like levels. 

“These balloon-flown aerobiology experiments allow us to study the microbe’s resiliency in ways that are impossible in the lab,” said Smith. “MARSBOx provides an opportunity to predict survival outcomes on Mars and help establish the limits of life as we know it.”

MARSBOx is funded by research grants from NASA’s Space Biology and NASA’s Planetary Protection Research Program within the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. The MARSBOx team consists of scientists at Ames and the  Radiation Biology Department  in the Institute of Aerospace Medicine at the German Aerospace Center, DLR, which also designed the sample container and led the microbiological analyses. NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, provided engineering support. The NASA Balloon Program Office at Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia, and the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas, provided additional support. 

For news media:

Members of the news media interested in covering this topic should reach out to the  NASA Ames newsroom .

Author: Rachel Hoover, NASA’s Ames Research Center

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

• LISTEN & FOLLOW
• Apple Podcasts
• Amazon Music
• Amazon Alexa

Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.

Researchers watch and worry as balloons are blasted from the sky

Geoff Brumfiel

A NASA balloon launched over Hawaii in 2014 to test components that might one day be used to land spacecraft on Mars. Balloons are regularly used to test new designs and conduct scientific experiments. Bill Rodman/NASA hide caption

A NASA balloon launched over Hawaii in 2014 to test components that might one day be used to land spacecraft on Mars. Balloons are regularly used to test new designs and conduct scientific experiments.

Angela Des Jardins never actually saw the alleged Chinese spy balloon when it made an appearance over Montana earlier this month.

"It was over Billings, which is a couple hours east of here," says Des Jardins, a physicist at Montana State University in Bozeman.

But she's seen plenty of others. Physics and engineering students at Montana State and all over the country use balloons for experiments and to test things they've built. Student teams from the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project , for example, have have big plans for doing research during next year's total solar eclipse.

In the past, student balloon launches have been festive affairs. But in a world where every balloon is a suspected foreign agent, what will people do when they see a white orb rising from a field?

"Are they going to bring a gun and try to shoot down the balloon?," she wonders.

National Security

Did an f-22 shoot down an illinois hobby group's small radio balloon.

Des Jardins is one of many scientific researchers around the country who have, until now, been using balloons under the public's radar. Balloons regularly carry physics experiments, collect atmospheric data, and test new pieces of scientific equipment. It remains to be seen whether that research will be disrupted following the Chinese balloon furor, but many scientists involved with the work are bracing for change.

"I'm just hoping that the response isn't painted with such a broad brush that it doesn't impact these other programs that are vital and important to the U.S.," says Gregory Guzik , a professor at Louisiana State University who works with high-altitude balloons.

A student balloon takes in the view at 85,000 feet over Montana.

An amateur's project was likely targeted on Feb. 11

It already appears that at least some innocent balloons have been blown out of the sky. President Biden said late last week that three objects shot down over the U.S. and Canada were likely "tied to private companies, recreation, or research institutions studying weather or conducting other scientific research."

One of those balloons is now suspected to have been a hobbyist balloon that had circled the earth six times before it was likely brought down by an AIM-9X sidewinder missile over Canada's Yukon Territory on Feb. 11. The balloon, K9YO-15, was built by the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade, and was being tracked by amateurs when it wandered into airspace monitored by the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

"We knew the moment that the intercept was reported, whose it was and which one it was," Dan Bowen , a stratospheric balloon consultant, told NPR.

U.S. and Canada call off search for unidentified airborne objects that were shot down

Balloons are also used for weather forecasting and commercial ventures. There are no firm numbers on how many civilian balloons are aloft at any given moment, but they're a constant presence in the skies above America. Small balloons like those used by Des Jardins' students drift far above the operating height of aircraft, into the stratosphere.

"Up that high, it's almost like the vacuum of space — it's cold, so you can test a lot of things and give budding engineers and scientists the experience," she says.

The objects typically rise until the pressure difference between the balloon and the thin atmosphere causes them to pop. Then parachutes carry their payloads back to earth, where students retrieve their work. The flights last a matter of hours, instead of days or weeks.

New rules could hinder research

Other, larger balloons can carry payloads that are thousands of pounds. Guzik says they've been used to study everything from solar activity, to cosmic rays and the ozone layer.

Guzik works regularly with large scientific balloons that closely resemble the Chinese spy balloon in appearance. He says he is not particularly worried that his balloons will meet a similar fate. They carry radio beacons that let everyone know they're not a threat.

"All of our balloons have transponders. We know where they are," he says. That allows researchers to contact officials at the Federal Aviation Administration or other agencies who might need to know.

Large scientific balloon experiments can carry solar arrays that, inadvertently, make them look from afar like the Chinese spy balloon. Balloon Program Office/NASA hide caption

Large scientific balloon experiments can carry solar arrays that, inadvertently, make them look from afar like the Chinese spy balloon.

In general, "balloon researchers are careful to follow airspace and other government regulations," says Joan Alexander , a senior scientist with NorthWest Research Associates, a scientific research organization that regularly works on balloon campaigns. "Our research balloons carry no surveillance capability, and safety is always a primary concern."

But Guzik is worried that the Chinese balloon may increase the regulation governing high altitude balloons, making it harder for scientists to do their work. For example, his balloons usually launch from a town in New Mexico near a sensitive government facility:

"While we don't try, we do brush up against the White Sands Missile Test Range," Guzik says.

In the past, it hasn't been a big deal if a balloon drifts near — they simply notify White Sands, and the balloon bobs by, at an altitude far above airplanes and other flying projectiles that might cause concern. But Guzik worries that fears about spying could change the rules, making it harder for peaceful balloons to fly. He can imagine airports, military bases, and many other facilities trying to restrict balloon overflights, something that can be difficult to do, since balloons tend to blow with the wind.

He says right now the conversation is too focused on the military threat from balloons.

"This other side of the story, the useful, practical ballooning that helps students, helps technology and our better understanding of the Universe, really needs to get out there," he says.

• DOI: 10.1299/jfst.2019jfst0017
• Corpus ID: 213646833

Aerodynamic performance of control surfaces on Mars airplane balloon experiment two

• Masahiro Kanazaki , Kai Tomisawa , +2 authors H. Nagai
• Published in Journal of Fluid Science and… 2019
• Engineering, Physics, Environmental Science

Figures from this paper

2 Citations

On genetic algorithm and artificial neural network combined optimization for a mars rotorcraft blade, numerical study on aerodynamic characteristics of wing within propeller slipstream at low-reynolds-number, 10 references, robust aerial deployment of mars airplane with tilted folding-axis, a parametric study of mars airplane concept for science mission on mars, toward the fastest unstructured cfd code "fastar", lift and drag prediction using automatic hexahedra grid generation method, design of the ares mars airplane and mission architecture, two-equation eddy-viscosity turbulence models for engineering applications, ten years of industrial experience with the sst turbulence model, extrapolation methods - theory and practice, related papers.

Showing 1 through 3 of 0 Related Papers

Space Perspective completes 1st uncrewed balloon flight to the edge of Earth's atmosphere (video)

Space Perspective's luxury balloon-lifted space capsule has completed a full flight to the edge of the atmosphere.

Florida-based space tourism company Space Perspective has successfully completed the first full, uncrewed test flight of its luxury balloon-lifted capsule to the edge of Earth's atmosphere.

Spaceship Neptune Excelsior, the first of the company's teardrop-shaped pressure pods, lifted off from Space Perspective's Marine Spaceport (MS) Voyager vessel off the coast of Saint Petersburg, Florida, on Sept. 15. and completed its first full flight test from takeoff to landing. Over the course of six hours, Space Perspective's trademarked " SpaceBalloon " ascent system carried Excelsior to an altitude of approximately 100,000 feet (30,480 meters) before its slow descent to a safe ocean splashdown and recovery. 

If all continues smoothly through Excelsior's remaining tests, Space Perspective founder and CEO Jane Poynter says the first crewed test flights will begin in 2025, with her and her husband, Space Perspective co-founder and CTO Taber MacCallum aboard. "I am undoubtedly going to be on one of the first, if not the first human flight that we do. You've got to believe it," Poynter told Space.com .

The test flight marks a major milestone for Space Perspective, which completed construction on its first Spaceship Neptune capsule last February. MacCallum, who described the flight as a "defining moment" for the company, said in a press release that the flight "not only proves our pioneering technology but also brings us a giant leap closer to making space accessible for everyone and reaffirms our belief in the transformative power of space travel."

Related: Space Perspective unveils 'Space Spa' restroom for balloon tourist flights (images)

Unlike other space tourism companies strapping their passengers into capsules blasting off on top of rockets , Space Perspective offers a softer, much gentler ride to the skies above our planet. Their Spaceship Neptune capsule hosts a luxurious interior where up to eight customers can relax, with a beverage service, as they slowly ascend to heights where the curvature of the Earth can be seen from their ergonomically cushioned seats. 

Stretched to a staggering 600 feet (183 meters) above the Spaceship Neptune capsule, Space Perspective's balloon, hand-stitched with load-bearing tape and carbon filaments, is pumped with buoyant hydrogen to ascend the pod to just 230,000 feet (70,100 meters) shy of the Kármán line —  the internationally recognized boundary where space begins. 

Breaking space news direct to your inbox

Sign up to the newsletter for the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

And while Space Perspective's Spaceship Neptune capsule isn't technically lifted above Earth's atmosphere, the company touts the pod design as, "the largest spaceflight capsule ever flown, with the largest windows ever flown," according to the release. 

Though upcoming Spaceship Neptune capsules are designed for the comfort of Space Perspective's customers, Excelsior was instead outfitted for testing, with a host of sensors and strain gauges to measure every detail of data during the vehicle's first flights. The completion of the capsule's first full flight last week also validated Space Perspective's mission control software and communication procedures, coordinating the balloon's launch and retrieval protocols from their headquarters in Titusville, Florida. 

—  Space Perspective wants to take tourists on balloon rides to the stratosphere

—  Space Perspective partners with Exclusive Resorts for balloon rides to the stratosphere

—  Space Perspective starts selling seats for balloon rides

The company currently has more than 1,800 ticket holders who have reserved seats aboard Spaceship Neptune, with customer flights expected to begin sometime late next year, or early 2026. Currently, a seat aboard Space Perspective's luxurious space-lift costs $125,000, but future company plans for a larger capsule to accomodate a higher number of passengers may reduce that price "somewhere well below $100,000," Poynter says.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Josh Dinner is Space.com's Content Manager. He is a writer and photographer with a passion for science and space exploration, and has been working the space beat since 2016. Josh has covered the evolution of NASA's commercial spaceflight partnerships, from early Dragon and Cygnus cargo missions to the ongoing development and launches of crewed missions from the Space Coast, as well as NASA science missions and more. He also enjoys building 1:144 scale models of rockets and human-flown spacecraft. Find some of Josh's launch photography on Instagram and his website , and follow him on Twitter , where he mostly posts in haiku.

Japan launching spy satellite on penultimate mission of H-2A rocket early Sept. 26

Blue Origin fires up 2nd stage of huge New Glenn rocket ahead of debut launch (video)

Radar images capture snowman-shaped object tumbling past Earth

Most Popular

• 2 Japan launching spy satellite on penultimate mission of H-2A rocket early Sept. 26
• 3 Canon PowerShot Zoom digital monocular review
• 4 Weird striped rock 'unlike any seen on Mars' found by Perseverance rover. Here's why NASA's excited
• 5 Blue Origin fires up 2nd stage of huge New Glenn rocket ahead of debut launch (video)