Wind again stops balloon launch

The gondola containing a Compton spectrometer and imager is returned to a hangar at Wanaka...
The gondola containing a Compton spectrometer and imager is returned to a hangar at Wanaka Airport yesterday, after the launch of Nasa’s super-pressure balloon was called off. Photo by Mark Price.
The  ‘‘she'll be right'' New Zealand attitude to things does not seem to be rubbing off on Nasa.

With a deathly stillness in the pre-dawn darkness at Wanaka Airport yesterday, the obvious thing to do at the supposed launch of a super pressure helium balloon was to ‘‘give it a go'' in the expectation that ‘‘she'd be right''.

That was certainly the vibe being put out by the media contingent holed up in a chilly hangar for the second time this month, surviving on free coffee and bacon and egg pie.

Two trucks containing helium gas, and the crane holding the gondola and its cache of scientific equipment, were visible on the runway only because of their flashing lights.

Eventually, the box containing the deflated balloon was sent out to join them and a launch seemed inevitable.

But, then a little helium-filled ‘‘pi ball'' test balloon let loose from the ground told Nasa something about wind speeds over the airport.

Nasa balloon programme office chief Debbie Fairbrother needed make no announcement - the disappointment on her face was clear enough.

Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility site manager Dwayne Orr filled in the details.

With the wind at up to 7kmh between the ground and 1500ft, a launch had been in prospect.

All that was needed was the ‘‘morning lull'', to bring the wind speed down to a manageable 3.7kmh to 5.5kmh .

But the pi ball indicated winds rising to 11kmh to 13kmh .

‘‘That means I'm not getting the stability I need to move ahead,'' Mr Orr said.

‘‘You don't want to start inflation of the tow balloon [which lifts the main balloon into a vertical position], really you don't want to start it above 4 knots [7kmh].''

Mr Orr said Nasa had learned from previous experience inflating the tow balloon in winds of 11kmh or more meant cutting it free and abandoning the launch.

‘‘We don't take those risks with this very expensive balloon.''

Ms Fairbrother said all the documentation allowing for a balloon to overfly the southern hemisphere was good up until May 15.

‘‘We're really hoping we don't have to be here that long,'' she said.

A decision will be made this afternoon about a possible launch tomorrow morning.

mark.price@odt.co.nz

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