The United States' space agency is testing its super pressure balloon technology and also delayed a launch yesterday.
The stadium-sized, heavy-lift balloons will travel the Southern Hemisphere’s mid-latitudes for planned missions of 100 days or more.
The first would carry instruments to take measurements more than 100km above the Earth’s surface.
It would help scientists predict changes in the ionosphere, which affected communication and navigation systems.
The second flight would support several scientific missions, including measuring light and soundwaves in the Earth’s atmosphere.
It is the sixth super-pressure balloon campaign held in New Zealand since 2015, the most recent being two successful launches in 2023.
Nasa is planning two test flights this year.
