Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — From mid-August through mid-October NASA will launch eight scientific balloons at the agency’s balloon launch facility in Fort Sumner. The flights will support 16 missions, including investigations in the fields of astrophysics, heliophysics, and atmospheric research. Andrew Hamilton, acting chief of NASA’s Balloon Program Office, said these flights set the foundation for follow-on missions from our long-duration launch facilities in Antarctica, New Zealand, and Sweden. The Fort Sumner campaign is also a strong focus for our student-based payloads, and is an excellent training opportunity for our up-and-coming scientists and engineers. To follow the missions in the 2024 Fort Sumner fall campaign, visit NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility website for real-time updates of balloons’ altitudes and locations during flight.
