#nearspace — Public Fediverse posts

NASA is participating in a collaborative effort to use high-altitude balloons to improve real-time communications among firefighters battling wildland fires.

https://go.nasa.gov/3UOcpcA

During the first test of the system last August, the balloon after spending several days in wildfire areas in Idaho and Canada, finally landed in ....Iceland!

Full details and map: https://stratocat.com.ar/fichas-e/2024/BKR-20240804.htm

#Technology #NASA #Aerostar #Thunderhead #Balloon #Wildfires #NearSpace #RemoteSensing #Science

While HBAL712 continues to wander off the southeastern Australian coast, Aerostar launched another Thunderhead, HBAL 713, from Dangel Airfield near Hurley (SD) yesterday morning.

HBAL 712 tracking: https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a26f79

HBAL 713 tracking: https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a26454

Off the grid there are three more balloons: HBAL 676 and HBAL 684 over the Pacific Ocean and HBAL 711 over the Atlantic Ocean.

#Ballooning #Balloon #NearSpace #Research #Technology #Stratospheric #Aerostar

Aerostar established a new record with one of their Thunderhead balloons being aloft for 200 days and counting.

Mission HBAL676 launched on March 28 from the firm's winter Lodge in Santa Fe County, is still floating 60 kft above the Pacific Ocean.

The previous record was 156 days aloft.

https://aerostar.com/news/aerostar-thunderhead-balloon-system-achieves-200-days-of-stratospheric-flight.

#Ballooning #Balloon #NearSpace #Science #Research #Technology #Astrodon #Space #Stratospheric #Aerostar #Thunderhead

Yesterday, October 9th, Aerostar performed another launch of a Thunderhead balloon.

On a first for the company, the balloon was launched from the Beecroft Weapons Range in New South Wales, Australia.

The site is administered by the Australian Defence Force for use as a live-firing range.

Real-time tracking: https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N256TH

#Ballooning #Balloon #NearSpace #Military #Research #Technology #Space #Stratospheric #Thunderhead #Aerostar #BeecroftWeaponsRange

Aerostar launched today from TCOM's Manufacturing & Flight Test Facility located in Elizabeth City (NC) a #Thunderhead balloon.

The craft with callsign #HBAL710 is floating now over the Atlantic Ocean at 60.000 ft.

This is the first time that the Sioux Falls-based firm launches from there.

Real-time tracking: https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=aceb11

#Aerostar #Ballooning #Balloon #NearSpace #Science #Research #Technology #Stratospheric

HBAL684 made a guest apparition over the LA area yesterday. Today this balloon marked for the second time in a month a new endurance record for #Aerostar #Thunderhead balloons completing 156 days aloft since she was launched from #Indiantown (FL) on April 22.

However, the top current record for the company is held by HBAL676 launched from Santa Fe County (NM) on March 28. It has been 181 days in flight.

Both balloons are in flight off the Californian coast.

#Technology #Science #NearSpace

Aerostar just launched a Thunderhead balloon that is moving eastbound NE of Ruidoso (NM).

According to the NOTAM issued the vehicle with callsign HBAL706 was released at 2:20 UTC from a site located 4 Nautic Miles NE of Sierra Nevada Regional Airport.

Real-time tracking: https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a26454

#Ballooning #Balloon #NearSpace #Technology #Stratospheric #Thunderhead #Aerostar

In case you don't know what is a #Thunderhead balloon here you will find a detailed explanation based on a previous flight of the system.

https://stratocat.com.ar/fichas-e/2024/CRC-20240626a.htm

#Aerostar #Balloon #Technology #Surveillance #Thunderhead #NearSpace #Stratosphere

A busy stratosphere over CONUS this morning.

#HBAL689 over WA just left the #Idaho area on which was providing connectivity for firefighting efforts.

#HBAL698 & #HBAL700 arrived to the East coast from #Morocco after taking part in Arcane Thunder 24 military exercise

The rest of the flotilla continues to wander across the great plains.

All #balloons are of the #Thunderhead type launched and operated by #Aerostar

#Ballooning #Technology #RemoteSensing #Stratos #Science #Space #NearSpace

The #Thunderhead balloon launched on August 4 from Baker Municipal Airport in #Oregon is part of an initiative between #NASA researchers, the U.S. Forest Service, and #Aerostar to provide persistent cell coverage from the stratosphere, enabling real-time communication between firefighters operating in West Mountain Complex fires in Idaho and command posts.

https://www.nasa.gov/stmd-flight-opportunities/flight-summaries/improving-firefighter-safety-with-strato/

#Balloon #NearSpace #Technology #Communications #Stratospheric #USForestService

Impressive image of Aerostar's Thunderhead balloon HBAL643 obtained yesterday over Oologah Lake, Oklahoma, US by Damon's Droneography photographer from the Tulsa metro area.

The balloon, launched on May 26 from Cross City, Florida has been in flight so far for 40 days

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1045390310919986

#Ballooning #Balloon #NearSpace #Science #STEM #Research #Astronomy #Technology #Cosmology #Astrodon #Space #Stratospheric #Thunderhead #Aerostar #Tulsa #Oklahoma #UFO #UAP