Today we launched a balloon, not one of our main payloads, but rather a Pathfinder balloon. A Pathfinder is a significantly smaller balloon that has a GPS transmitter attached to it. We launch these balloons to help confirm that upper level winds are setting up as expected. One of the main reason we come to Antarctica is that in the summer, there are fairly consistent and predictable winds in the stratosphere that we can fly the balloons in. These winds create a vortex around the South Pole around this time of year and this allows payloads to fly for around 50 days and come down still over the Antarctic continent. We have computer models of these winds between 120000ft and 130000ft, but on occasion, we need to confirm that these models are in fact correct - and that is why we launch the Pathfinder balloons. These balloons can stay up at 130000ft for several days and continually transmit their position back to us, and thus we can get a fairly accurate measurement of the winds at these heights. Below are a few pictures of the Pathfinder balloon launch.
Inflating the balloon
Releasing the balloon
The balloon ascending
Well I know it probably felt good to get something launched @ least. I hope the winds set up and you get the BIG DADDY launched soon! Love you and miss you tons. I need my husband back :)
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