
Giant balloon has circumnavigated Antarctica three times
By Summit Voice
FRISCO — Somewhere out in deep space, an as-yet unknown source is producing high-energy cosmic rays that bombard the Earth on a regular basis. After gathering data from a record-setting unmanned balloon flight over Antarctica, NASA scientists hope to better understand where these energetic atomic nuclei are produced and how they achieve their very high energies.
The record-breaking balloon carried an instrument with a name that’s straight out of science fiction comic book, the Super Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder. So far, the balloon has been aloft for 46 days. Taking advantage of the unbroken circumpolar winds, the balloon is on its third orbit around the South Pole.
You can track the balloon on its flight by visiting this page: http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice.htm and learn more about NASA’s balloon programs here: http://www.wff.nasa.gov/balloons. (more…)
Filed under: Antarctica, climate and weather, Environment | Tagged: Antarctica, balloon, cosmic rays, McMurdo Station, NASA, Wallops Flight Facility | Leave a Comment »



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