NASA schedules super pressure balloon launch attempt
UPDATE 6am Wednesday: Today’s launch attempt has been cancelled. There is a potential opportunity for another launch attempt tomorrow. We will keep you posted.
NASA has scheduled a launch attempt of a super pressure balloon test flight tomorrow, Wednesday, 9 April 2025 [NZ time], from Wānaka Airport.
This is the sixth super-pressure balloon campaign held in New Zealand since 2015. Two balloons were successfully launched from Wānaka during NASA’s last visit in 2023. This year, NASA is planning two scientific balloon missions from Wānaka and this is the first launch attempt of the 2025 campaign.
NASA will begin flight preparations in the early-morning hours and will continue to evaluate real-time and forecast weather conditions throughout the morning. If weather is favourable for launch, lift-off is scheduled between 9.00am and 1.00pm local time.
Restricted entry and road closures
Public access to Wānaka Airport and roadside parking beside the airport is not permitted on the morning of the launch attempt.
State Highway 6 Wanaka-Luggate Highway from Mt Barker to Church Road and State Highway 8A Shortcut Road will be closed for the launch. Light vehicles may detour via Camp Hill Road. Heavy vehicles will detour via Cemetery Road. A message board will be installed on State Highway 84 notifying of motorists of the closure status
Viewing points
Immediately after lift-off, the balloon will be visible for kilometres around – the best viewing points will be on the hill on the Hāwea side of the Red Bridge by Kane Road or on the Hāwea Flat side of the Clutha River.
Updates on the balloon launch
A live feed of the launch will available here: https://video.ibm.com/channel/nasa-csbf-ldsd.
For launch updates, follow Wānaka Airport's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WanakaAirport
Track the progress of the flight at the following link, which includes a map showing the balloon’s real-time location: http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/newzealand/wanaka.htm .
Campaign updates will be available on NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility blog at: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/wallops/
