Safe, energy-efficient and cost-effective, long duration balloons are perfect platforms for both astronomy and atmospheric observations.

Floating between 30 and 40 km altitude for more than a month at a time, it is way cheaper than a satellite mission and can provide in-situ measurements.

Using the IRIDIUM satellite phone network, you can even call your payload using a computer and download your data directly – no need for costly and complex telemetry downlinks.

Launch from Svalbard

We can launch your balloon from any site on Norwegian territory, including the polar regions. From Longyearbyen, Svalbard your balloon can exploit the high altitude stratospheric winds to circumnavigate the north pole.

Hosting an armada of scientists from all fields, Svalbard has a well-developed research infrastructure where Andøya Rocket Range is a natural part.
Co-operating with the Italian Space Agency, we have established the Nobile Amundsen Stratospheric Balloon Center.

Payload Assistance

We can aid in the designing and building of your payload. Drawing on know-how from our sounding rocket activities we can build the payload structural elements and housekeeping, enabling you to focus on the actual instrumentation.

Recovery

Recovery is a cost-effective means for long term, yearly projects. With helicopter support your payload can be brought back to base just hours after landing on either Svalbard or Greenland.

Trailblazer

Using the Italian Trailblazer payload as a first step to test part of equipment suitable for launching larger long duration balloons in the future, the balloon floated for a record 39 days round the north pole before it was terminated.

Perfect Testbed

Balloon flights are safe and cheap ways of testing and verifying new technology and instruments prior to satellite missions.

Want to test balloon technology aimed at other celestial bodies such as Venus or Mars? Planning to fly ultra long duration balloons to the edge of space? Andøya Rocket Range has been a technology testbed for several projects in the 45 years we’ve existed.