AN OVERVIEW OF THE NASA SOUNDING ROCKETS AND BALLOON PROGRAMS

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Sounding Rockets and Balloon Programs conduct a total of 30 to 40 missions per year in support of the NASA scientific community and other users. The NASA Sounding Rockets Program supports the science community by integrating their experiments into the sounding rocket payloads, and providing both the rocket vehicle and launch operations services. Activities since 2009 have included one flight from Andoya Rocket Range, more than ten flights from White Sands Missile Range, approximately six flights from Wallops Flight Facility, and an additional four flights from Poker Flat Research Range. Other activities include one developmental flight of the Terrier-Improved Malemute launch vehicle, the development of a high data rate telemetry capability, and numerous smaller activities to improve program support capabilities. Future missions include two flights from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean and two flights from Andoya Rocket Range in 2012. Preliminary planning is underway for a possible launch campaigns in Woomera, Australia in the 2014 and 2016 time frame. The NASA Balloon Program supported numerous science missions in 2009 - 2010 with flights from the U.S., Sweden, Australia, and Antarctica. In addition, NASA continues incremental design qualification towards development of heavy lift super pressure balloons, capable of supporting upwards of one hundred day missions. New flight and ground safety procedures have been implemented to provide enhanced launch and flight safety.