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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Astrophysics Science Division | Sciences and Exploration

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2003 Balloon Campaign

Current weather conditions in Alice Springs
About Alice Springs

Field Journals
Field Pictures
Wildlife Seen on 2003 Campaign
Vehicles Seen on 2003 Campaign
Questions and Answers

NIGHTGLOW prepared for a launch from Alice Springs, Australia on an ultra-long duration (ULD) "pumpkin" balloon, waiting for the instrument, balloon, and weather conditions to be right. The science team arrived in Alice Springs in late December 2002 and early January 2003. The balloon arrived on January 11. The science team assembled and tested the NIGHTGLOW instrument and readied it for the balloon launch.

NIGHTGLOW finally launched from Alice Springs, Australia on March 17, 2003 at 8:38 a.m. local time (March 16 at 6:08 p.m. EST). Unfortunately, the flight was terminated on March 17, 2003 at 8:07 p.m. local time (March 17 at 5:37 a.m. EST) due to pressure loss in the balloon.

NIGHTGLOW crash site - NIGHTGLOW in a small lake NIGHTGLOW crash site - NIGHTGLOW in a small lake - slightly different view NIGHTGLOW crash site - ULD balloon on dry land next to lake

Above are aerial photos of the landing site. The leftmost two photos are of the payload (NIGHTGLOW) in a small lake in the middle of the Outback. You can see its parachute lying at the edge of the lake. The photo on the right is of the ULD balloon on dry land near the lake.

NIGHTGLOW crash site NIGHTGLOW crash site NIGHTGLOW crash site NIGHTGLOW crash site NIGHTGLOW crash site NIGHTGLOW crash site NIGHTGLOW crash site NIGHTGLOW crash site

This file was last modified April 4, 2003