NASA’s Antarctic balloon mission launches to study dark matter and beyond

According to recent reports, NASA has launched its annual Antarctic long-duration balloon campaign from the Ross Ice Shelf near McMurdo Station. This season, two large balloons will carry nine scientific missions into near space, with launches scheduled to begin in mid-December. The program, led by NASA’s Scientific Balloon Program Office at Wallops Flight Facility and supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, New Zealand and the U.S. Air Force, highlights collaborative efforts in such remote conditions.

Major Mission and Objectives

According to official NASA information, among the primary missions, the General Anti-Particle Spectrometer (GAPS), led by researchers at Columbia University, aims to detect anti-matter particles associated with dark matter. These particles are protected by Earth’s atmosphere and can only be observed from suborbital platforms or space. The mission is expected to explore previously unknown energy ranges associated with dark matter interactions.

Another important initiative involves the Universal Salter Test Flight, led by NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Texas. This mission is designed to evaluate long-duration balloon system performance while supporting additional experiments, known as piggyback missions.

piggyback experiment on expedition

The MARSBOx experiment, overseen by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, will uncover a type of fungus growing in stratospheric conditions similar to Mars. Data from this research may contribute to astronaut protection measures against radiation. Other piggyback experiments include Mexico’s EMIDSS-6 for climate-relevant stratospheric data and NASA’s SPARROW-6, which focuses on wind measurement technologies.

Technical Innovation and Support

Reports indicate that NASA uses zero-pressure balloons that are capable of reaching altitudes above 99.8 percent of the Earth’s atmosphere. Continuous daylight during Antarctica’s summer ensures long flight durations, allowing missions to gather extensive data while circling the continent. Construction is being carried out by Aerostar, with logistical support provided by the US Antarctic Program.

Reportedly, NASA has launched more than 1,700 balloons globally, underscoring its commitment to advance scientific research through high-altitude experiments.