A Nasa super pressure balloon was on track to pass south of New Zealand early this morning, completing its first circumnavigation of the globe since being launched from Wanaka Airport on May 18.
The 532,000cu m helium balloon, is expected to circumnavigate Earth about the southern hemisphere's mid latitudes once every one to three weeks, depending on wind speeds.
Wanaka Airport manager Ralph Fegan said it was not known exactly when the balloon would grace the skies of Wanaka again.
"The whole thing is really good.
"I got an email from a person in Argentina who somehow tracked me down and sent me a grainy image of the balloon in Argentina.
"It's just amazing that people around the world are tracking it.''
It is hoped the balloon will remain in the air for 100 days, before landing somewhere in South America.
