NASA Launches Large-Scale Mission in Antarctica Using Scientific Balloons
NASA has announced the launch of a large-scale mission in the Antarctic, in which cylinders the size of a stadium will be used for a series of scientific experiments. The Antarctic Long-Term Cylins (LDB) campaign is set to begin in early December, aiming to study various phenomena.
The mission involves the use of huge zero-pressure cylinders that expand when heated by the sun and compress when entered, allowing for shorter flight durations compared to other systems. However, during the polar summer, when the cylinders are constantly exposed to sunlight, long-term missions are possible in order to surpass the current flight duration record of just over 55 days. The launch will take place from NASA’s site near McMurdo, the largest community on the southern continent of Earth.
One of the main components of the 2023 launch is the Gusto mission (Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory), which aims to measure the radiation of cosmic material in interstellar space. The data collected by Gusto will provide valuable information about the interstellar gas life cycle in the Milky Way, including the formation and destruction of stars, as well as the gas flows in the center of our galaxy. Gusto will be equipped with a telescope to detect radiation lines of oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen.
As part of the annual LDB campaign in Antarctica, additional scientific missions will also take place. These include the Aesop-Lite mission, which will study space rays of electrons and positrons, and the Laura engineering test, which will use solar panels to increase the duration and efficiency of the manual launch platform used in the NASA Antarctic laboratory for long-term flights. The Laura engineering test aims to solve problems related to feeding systems of scientific instruments in manual launches of cylinders.
In December, the Antarctic Infrasound Hand Launch (ANIHALA) mission will also be conducted. ANIHALA aims to measure the subtle background sound in the Earth’s stratosphere, providing