Enormous research balloon observed in several places in northern Norway – news Troms and Finnmark

news has received several tips from people who have seen a giant balloon flying over several places in northern Norway. It has been observed from Træna, Gildeskål, Bodø, Evenes, Evenskjer, Bardufoss and Vannøya, among others. Since it was seen over several military installations, a question has arisen. Is it a spy balloon? So it is not. It turns out that it is a research balloon, which was launched from the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna. It has North America as its destination, and is 1.7 million cubic meters long. This is stated in a press release from the space center in Northern Sweden. Will study X-rays The balloon is a so-called NASA BOOMS balloon, and it is the largest ever sent up from the Esrange Space Centre. The balloon is used to study X-rays in the polar atmosphere. The results are used for research. The balloon can fly about 45.7 kilometers above the earth’s surface. The Gigant balloon before it was launched into the atmosphere. Photo: Mattias Forsberg / SSC This is the seventh giant balloon they have sent up from Kiruna since this spring. – This is something completely unique, and we have now reached the peak of our balloon bonanza with this launch. That’s what Lennart Poromaa, director of Esrange Space Center, says. Going to North America The balloon has been sent up in collaboration with the American NASA. The balloon has the name 60MCF, and according to the American space agency NASA, is of great importance to the scientific community. – Some of the instruments that are flown are so sensitive to disturbances from the atmosphere that even flying a little higher than our typical altitude of 120,000-130,000 feet can provide a lot of scientific pay. The qualification of this balloon will allow NASA to continue to push the boundaries of what we do for the scientific community, says Andrew Hamilton, director of NASA’s balloon program in the press release. Published 14.07.2024, at 12.18



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