NASA just pulled off a sky-high feat: One of its massive super-pressure balloons completed a full lap around the Southern Hemisphere in just over 16 days.
The globe-trotting balloon crossed the 169.24 degrees east longitude line Saturday (May 3) — a milestone that proved the high-flying vehicle can cruise steadily at extreme altitudes both day and night, making it a reliable platform for long-duration science missions. Unlike rockets, balloons like these are cost-effective for lengthy scientific missions because they allow extended data collection without the need for launch vehicles or complex propulsion systems.
