NASA’s experimental Ultra Long Duration Balloon sprang a leak less than two
hours after being launched on its test flight from Alice Springs in Australia
last Sunday, forcing it to land about 250 kilometres west of the launch site.
It’s a bit of a mystery, says Henry Cathey, ULDB’s vehicle manager. “It was a
beautiful launch, and it went exactly as we planned.” The balloon is designed to
float up to 35 kilometres above the Earth for 100 days, doing the work of a
satellite at a fraction of the cost.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from 91av
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending 91av articles
1
There has been a sudden increase in the rate of sea level rise
2
PCOS postpones perimenopause and allows pregnancies at older ages
3
The mathematician who doesn’t exist
4
Man destined for Alzheimer's may have been saved by accidental therapy
5
A lost ancient script reveals how writing as we know it really began
6
Fire is spreading in the Chernobyl exclusion zone after drone crash
7
Woman in cancer remission without treatment in highly unusual case
8
Neanderthal 'kneeprint' found next to mysterious stalagmite circle
9
Red-light therapy does have health benefits but not the ones you think
10
Huge landslide in Alaska caused 481m-high tsunami
