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The National Scientific Balloon Facilty (NSBF) (established
1961) is a NASA facilty responsible for deploying and recovering
scientific high altitude balloons for NASA centers and Universities.
Mission
Its mission is threefold:
- Plan, develop, and operate facilities to provide scientific balloon service to the scientific community.
- Perform research and development on future ballooning technology.
- Provide consulting services in the field of scientific baallooning.
History
The NSBF was established in Boulder, Colorado in 1961 under the auspices of
the National Science Foundation. The facility was moved to Palestine,
Texas in 1963 and designated as the National Scientific Balloon Facility in
January 1973.
In 1982, sponsorship of the NSBF was transferred from the National Science
Foundation to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and
the NSBF became a separate entity under the University Corporation for
Atmospheric Research (UCAR).
Since October, 1987, the NSBF is opereated by the
Physical Science Laboratory under the auspices of New Mexico State University
located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is administered by [[Goddard
Space Flight Center]]'s Wallops Flight Facility.
NSBF Ballooning
Balloon
NSBF conventional and lond duration (LDB) balloons are made of 20 micrometer
thick polyethylene film, and have a diameter of up to 120 meters. The
balloons are filled with helium gas, can carry payloads up to 3600 kg, fly
at altitudes of up to 42 km, and can remain at float for over 2 weeks.
The balloons are zero pressure difference balloons, and are open at the bottom.
They are only partially inflated when launched, and as they rise up, the lower
atmospheric pressure causes them to fully inflate.
The bottom of the balloon is attached to a parachute, which is then attached by
steel cables to the payload. A flight is terminated by simultaneously
separating the parachute from the balloon, and ripping open the top of the
balloon. The balloon quickly deflates and falls to the ground to be recovered
and disposed of (balloons are single use). Meanwhile, the payload falls, and
when it gets low enough, there will be enough atmosphere to open the parachute,
at which point the payload will slowly float to the ground.
Ultra long duration balloons (ULDB) are being developed which can operate at float
for up to 100 days.
Launch Sites
NSBF launches balloons from several sites in the world, depending on the
needs of the experiment they carry. Sites include:
References
National Scientific Ballon Facilty Homepage (http://www.nsbf.nasa.gov/)
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