The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA)'s Balloon
Program offers low-cost access to a near-space environment. The NASA Balloon Program
looks to stay in the forefront capabilities, leveraging new technology to match ever
evolving needs of the scientific community. The NASA Balloon Program works to support
disciplines such as Heliospheric Physics, Gamma Ray/X-Ray, Planetary, Particle
Astrophysics, IR-submillimeter, Upper Atmosphere, test flights, and student flight
projects. This overview of NASA’s Balloon Program is intended to be a high-level
overview of our standard systems and current launch locations, as well as development
efforts to include the changing realities of using helium and the need to explore new
launch locations.