A Roadmap For Scientific Ballooning 2020-2030

TL;DR

This paper presents a strategic roadmap for NASA's Scientific Balloon Program from 2020 to 2030, emphasizing community input, science priorities, technological development, outreach, and commercial opportunities.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive, community-driven plan outlining key science drivers, technological needs, and strategic priorities for the next decade of scientific ballooning.

Findings

Identified key science drivers for ballooning in astrophysics and Earth science.

Assessed technological maturity and future needs for balloon launch capabilities.

Outlined opportunities for community outreach and commercial balloon launches.

Abstract

From 2018 to 2020, the Scientific Balloon Roadmap Program Analysis Group (Balloon Roadmap PAG) served as an community-based, interdisciplinary forum for soliciting and coordinating community analysis and input in support of the NASA Scientific Balloon Program. The Balloon Roadmap PAG was tasked with articulating and prioritizing the key science drivers and needed capabilities of the Balloon Program for the next decade. Additionally, the Balloon Roadmap PAG was asked to evaluate the potential for achieving science goals and maturing technologies of the Science Mission Directorate, evaluate the Balloon Program goals towards community outreach, and asses commercial balloon launch opportunities. The culmination of this work has been a written report submitted to the NASA Astrophysics Division Director.