The Physical Science Laboratory at NMSU uniquely understands the operational balloon flight support needed for safe successful missions. PSL has an extensive background with a set of capacities that fully address all aspects of balloon operations. Our over three decades supporting scientific balloon flights including 25 plus years of management and operation of NASA Balloon Program, captures a wealth of technical and personal expertise unavailable anywhere else. We are experts in flight operations and flight systems for the high-altitude environment (60,000 to 160,000+ ft). We have equipment, processes, and skills required to ensure safe and successful balloon flights.
Scientific Ballooning
Capabilities & Support
PSL provides extensive experience including launching, tracking, and recovering scientific balloons and payloads, providing engineering services for operational support, payload design and integration, quality control, and balloon research and development. We also have a full understanding of the requirements for various launch locations, both foreign and domestic, and the capabilities and limitations of these types of operations. PSL has a long history and experience in high altitude scientific balloon services. Current PSL personnel have decades of experience with almost all aspects of what is required to launch scientific and research balloons. The skill mix includes personnel and backgrounds including:
- Program management of balloon efforts
- Campaign management for balloon flight ops
- Balloon flight performance analysis
- Launch crew support including Crew Chief and all support positions
- Mechanical and gondola/payload design & certification
- Flight line and campaign rigging requirements
- Flight electronics and long duration balloon electronics
- Unique flight support systems
- Payload structural and thermal analysis
- Meteorology
- Balloon design, construction, fab., and quality
- Super Pressure Ballooning - all aspects of the design, analysis, launch, and flight performance