NASA's 2022 campaign in Wānaka has ended without a successful launch of its super pressure balloon.
File photo: NASA's super pressure balloon last took flight from Wānaka in 2017. Photo: Supplied: NASA/BILL RODMAN
The sixth launch attempt was aborted today after the brakes on a key piece of equipment that guides and feeds the balloon material during launch operations wouldn't release.
Earlier launch attempts were scuppered by weather conditions.
NASA balloon programme office chief Debbie Fairbrother said they would investigate the cause of the problem to prevent similar issues in future.
"While not the ending we were hoping for, I'm proud of the professionalism of our team in ensuring safe operations today and throughout the campaign," she said.
The 2022 Wānaka super pressure balloon campaign was the fourth in New Zealand since NASA began balloon operations in the Queenstown Lakes district in 2015.
Previous missions were conducted in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
While NASA was unable to launch this year, they counted the campaign as a success after signing a lease for hangar space at Wānaka Airport for upcoming super pressure balloon missions.
NASA also performed important maintenance and upkeep on its balloon launch pad at the airport.
"We accomplished a lot during this campaign in further establishing our presence in Wānaka for future operations," Fairbrother said.
"I'm one to take the long view on things and I'm super optimistic for the way ahead. I'm looking forward to our return to Wānaka and hopefully with fewer challenges than what we had this year."
The programme will return to Wānaka next year.
The team's next campaigns are in Sweden and the US.