Update

There has not been much activity recently. The gondola is ready to go, but the weather has not cooperated. They were able to launch one pathfinder earlier, and the path was not favorable. They just launched a second pathfinder and are already satisfied with its path. Apparently CREAM may launch tomorrow if the weather is suitable. If the weather remains favorable we could launch a couple days later.

Here is a link to the NASA page . You can monitor the flight paths of the two pathfinders and the gondola's when they launch. To make it easier for pilots, Antarctica has its own coordinate system. In the projection you see on the Pathfinder link, the prime meridian becomes grid north.


That is the payload for the Ultra Long Duration Balloon or ULDB hanging from the Boss. They are still testing it out, so the payload is mostly just instrumentation for tracking. ANITA and CREAM use Long Duration Balloons. The main difference is ULDB's are pressurized because they are completely sealed, LDB's are open at the bottom like a hot air balloon. Both use helium to fly. Originally LDB's only flew for a week or so, but now they are having flights of over 30 days. ULDB's should fly for a few months. ULDB's though don't have much application in Antarctica, because as there is only a limited window in which you can launch and recover a balloon.

The mezzanine in the hangar.













My area is on the right














The hangar with ANITA right outside.


















This shot actually isn't that much better without ANITA.



















Update to the update. The pathfinding balloon has a leak, and is dropping pretty fast, it should impact in a couple minutes. My guess is they won't launch CREAM tomorrow.

Rumor has it they were using a new untested balloon type for the pathfinder.