
I'm famous! twitter.com/Calidarien/status/953726262236901377

Just published on Atmos. Meas. Tech. data on #TILDAE sensor flown "piggyback" on @GRIPSballoon over Antarctica⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/867011072347312129

.@NASA video about .@GRIPSballoon recovery in #Antarctica. I am the pink hat and .@hazbain is in orange. www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasa-funded-balloon-recovered-a-year-after-flight-over-antarctica

NASA article with film footage of the @GRIPSballoon recovery from Antarctica this winter by @NDuncanSolar & myself! www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasa-funded-balloon-recovered-a-year-after-flight-over-antarctica

After several days at LDB in McMurdo, the recovered @GRIPSballoon hardware was ready to be shipped back to the US o⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/821772244754034688

Waiting to board an LC-130 back to McMurdo with the recovered @GRIPSballoon cargo.


Leveling out the skiway for takeoff at the AGO2 fuel stop on the @GRIPSballoon final recovery flight.


Twin Otter at @GRIPSballoon on final recovery flight. You can through the window that the plane is full of GRIPS ha⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/821770325893541888

10 days ago we got a 3rd recovery flight out to @GRIPSballoon. The weather was perfect allowing us to recover all o⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/821769497229008896

Refueling at AGO2 on the way back to South Pole. @GRIPSballoon


Parts of the @GRIPSballoon that we dug out earlier in the week were snowed back under when we returned for the 2nd⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/817997074625134592

August and James stoked after 90 minutes of hasty digging and cutting. @GRIPSballoon


.@GRIPSballoon recovery flight #2: 90 min scramble on the ground but we got all the important science items. Includ⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/817995251071774720

The @GRIPSballoon solar panels suffered the worst but the priority science items look great! Hoping for more flight⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/816535816046575616

The @GRIPSballoon cryostat is in good shape having survived a full winter on the ice. We spent yesterday & today pr⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/816534534535651328

On Monday we finally got a good weather window and flew out to the @GRIPSballoon landing site to recover the cryost⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/816531715325919232

Meanwhile, we visited NOAA's ARO facility here at Pole and collected our own samples of the clearest air on Earth.β¦ twitter.com/i/web/status/811115947666894848

The ole @GRIPSballoon luck, with regards to the weather, is back. Still waiting at Pole for good weather to fly out to the GRIPS site.

Congrats to the BACCUS, ANITA IV and STO-2 balloon teams who have all launched this season from LDB McMurdo.


The Twin Otter plane arrived at South Pole a few of days ago. We are waiting on good weather for our reconnoissance flight to @GRIPSballoon

Meanwhile here are some of photos of @NDuncanSolar and I at our Deep Field Shakedown training on the Ross Ice shelf⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/806439853093191680

It's been great to get to know our extended groom and mountaineering team while we wait out the weather delays @GRIPSballoon

The @GRIPSballoon team is currently waiting for a Twin Otter plane to arrive at South Pole before we can get out on a reconnoissance flight.

Last year, NASA set a record for latest Antarctic balloon launch (@GRIPSballoon); this year, the earliest. The clim⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/803544205188599808

@NDuncanSolar and I are on the ice. We're going through field safety training before heading out to recover .@GRIPSballoon

#GRIPSrecovery team is on Antarctica. Stay tuned to @GRIPSballoon for news on their advances. twitter.com/hazbain/status/803888037625217024

The .@GRIPSballoon is at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station safe and sound!

We've spent that last few days preparing for the .@GRIPSballoon recovery in McMurdo, sending cargo to Pole for stage 2.

The .@GRIPSballoon team survived happy camper training out on the Ross Ice Shelf. It was actually too hot in our tents.

Getting ready for Deep Field Shakedown training. A mini field camp training out on the Ross ice shelf before we really go into the field.

This Thursday @NDuncanSolar and I will begin the journey south to recover the @GRIPSballoon gondola. We'll try to tweet our progress.

The Antarctic Sun: #GRIPS Moment Under the Sun. A great article in 4 parts about this year's @GRIPSballoon flight⦠twitter.com/i/web/status/783734347237060608

Relativistic electron precipitation event from .@GRIPSballoon Antarctic flight


Early results from the @GRIPSballoon team presented at #2016SPD


.@GRIPSballoon succesful first flight talk from PI Pascal SaintHilaire at #2016SPD on Boulder #milehigher


.@GRIPSballoon in the news! "carried by a balloon at a whopping elevation of 130,000ft " aasnova.org/2016/06/01/2016-spd-day-1/ #2016spd

Great interest in @GRIPSballoon mission. Payload is still on the ice but will be recovered this year. The risks of #Antarctic weather

The @GRIPSballoon #Antarctic results presented by @Calidarien at #2016SPD press conference


@stratoballoon The COSI team includes @GRIPSBalloon's @BrentMochizuki who is fresh off the ice!

The COSI Balloon team (including @GRIPSballoon's @BrentMochizuki ) are in Wanaka, NZ preparing for their next flight cosi2014.wordpress.com/2016/02/16/cosi-2016/

@GRIPSballoon great talk by Nicole Duncan at Dallas Zonta Club just now.


.@GRIPSballoon--flying now!--studies high-energy radiation from solar flares. More: go.nasa.gov/1SuAU9c #MotW


Earth horizon visible from the @GRIPSBalloon on-board camera: www.csbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice.htm


GOES C9 flare today, hopefully observed by @GRIPSballoon #FingersCrossed for some #GammaRays


Happy one-week-aversary @GRIPSballoon www.csbf.nasa.gov/map/balloon8/balloon8.png

Check out NASA's feature on the @GRIPSballoon launch: www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/nasa-funded-balloon-launches-to-study-sun Photo credit: Albert Shih @Calidarien


Congrats @Calidarien @hazbain @NDuncanSolar and NASA/Berkeley team on successful @GRIPSballoon launch in Antarctic! twitter.com/antarcticreport/status/689267875748556800

Movie of the @GRIPSballoon launch! Thanks to CSBF for finding us a launch window in this season full of bad weather youtu.be/o7FrY-6w7PY

Thank you everyone who has supported us throughout the project, at home, here in Antarctica and today's launch! We very much appreciate it!!

A ballon is currently above antarctica measuring #solarflares @GRIPSballoon @hazbain good luck with the observations!!

In-flight image of opposing Antarctic horizons from the @GRIPSballoon roll sensor (heritage from the HEROES balloon)


Floating 40kms above #Antarctica for 20-40 days @GRIPSballoon bit.ly/1n6Z2Sc @NASAGoddard @UCBerkeley twitter.com/stratoballoon/status/689256001032318976

You can track the @GRIPSballoon progress here: www.csbf.nasa.gov/map/balloon8/flight668N.htm β¦. Currently at 31,000 feet, 10 knots.


WOOO @GRIPSballoon is on the map! The red dot at the bottom of the map is the beginning of their flight path!!


The @GRIPSballoon will shed light on most powerful explosions in solar system: solar flares @NASAGoddard @UCBerkeley twitter.com/NDuncanSolar/status/689263746800160768

.@GRIPSballoon LAUNCHED!!!!

Even the Stormtrooper on my desk is saying Go! @GRIPSballoon Go!


@DavidLGlaser @GRIPSballoon Watching from a coffee shop in oakland. GOGOGOGOGO!!!!!


Inflation of the @GRIPSballoon Mission 668N just started at Williams Field, McMurdo.


@GRIPSballoon watching the launch in a coffee shop in Berleley! So excited for all of you!!! Go GRIPS!!!!!!!!


Started balloon inflation!!! Apparently that means we're 3/4 of the way there .@GRIPSballoon

Thanks for cleaning the NASA/LDB camera lenses Gerald! .@GRIPSballoon


Watching a stratospheric balloon launch from Antarctica w/ NASAtelevision's live broadcast @Ustream! ustre.am/1dLTf! @GRIPSballoon

From the @GRIPSballoon team: it will take about 45 mins to inflate the balloon so launch will be at least 45 mins from now. Fingers crossed!

Tense moment waiting for go/ no go order. @gripsballoon 8th launch attempt. #goingfortheone

The @GRIPSballoon roving ground support equipment (GSE) is all set up!


@stratoballoon @GRIPSballoon we just gave the word from the science team to go ahead. Its "Go/No Go" time!

Nail biting downhere while waiting see appear the balloon bubble in the distance @gripsballoon 8th launch attempt


Looking good ! Helium trailers already departed for the launch pad in @gripsballoon 8th laun ch attempt


Many thanks to @csbfops for moving the High Bay camera to see in the distance the launch pad. @gripsballoon


8th launch attempt for @gripsballoon now. The Boss is taking it to the launch pad.


Moving to the launch pad!!!!!! .@GRIPSballoon

@GRIPSballoon I know. Hope your baby be launched soon. Its very hard to wait for the right weather there. Keep on ! twitter.com/GRIPSballoon/status/689173401710166016

@StationCDRKelly @GRIPSballoon rolling out again in #Antartica Wish them well this time! they have been very patient. @hazbain

@GRIPSballoon @stratoballoon It will be amazing when you get that balloon up there, well worth the wait!

@GRIPSballoon @stratoballoon 'never give up...' Watched Galaxy Quest last night! π

Fresh powder at LDB for rollout number 8. Window opens at 2pm local, 5pm PST, 8pm EST, 10pm GMT .@GRIPSballoon


Cancelled by 18mph gusts @ 450ft. We need calm winds at all altitudes. Weather update in 3hrs. Thx for all the support today!

Checklists are complete and systems ready. Hopefully moving to the launch pad soon!

The pilot ball with tether is looking good! We want a tether without kinks. Kinks = wind!
Show Media

The weather window for launch attempt number 6 will begin around 10am local, 1pm PST, 4pm EST, 9pm GMT. No whistling, it brings the wind

We can actually see Mount Erebus this morning, that's a good start! .@GRIPSballoon


After days of bad weather we have a launch window today. Starting at 14:00 local, 17:00 PST, 20:00 EST and 01:00 GMT. Finger crossed!

Prehistoric @GRIPSballoon astronaut, Kurt, endured frost/rime this week; we were more worried about our electronics


A lone AdΓ©lie penguin wandered up to the @GRIPSballoon high bay today and then out towards the launch pad


The weather hasn't improved. No rollout or launch window today.

We are cancelled for the day. A weather system that was due to move in tmrw arrived early. Wind speed was to high to even stay outside.

Photo of the @GRIPSballoon team during the fourth launch attempt (includes @NDuncanSolar @hazbain @BrentMochizuki)


The @GRIPSballoon team is preparing for launch in Antarctica! New additions to our album: bit.ly/1JppH73


#McMurdo storm inspires art @RuthHeindel, pauses some scientific activity, e.g. no @GRIPSballoon launch, #Antarctica twitter.com/RuthHeindel/status/684532975543791617

And we're cancelled for the day. Still foggy and windy out here. We'll try again tomorrow.

Good morning from a cold and foggy LDB. Launch attempt 4. Rollout underway .@GRIPSballoon


Launch window for @GRIPSballoon starts soon but we're in a weather hold. I'll post updates here. Watch this space: www.csbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice.htm

Launch update: we'll have another launch attempt tomorrow morning! 10am local, 1pm PST, 4pm EST, 9pm GMT!

Blog post about the "forgotten" @GRIPSballoon proposal from 2006 and how things could have been different grips.ssl.berkeley.edu/the-forgotten-grips-proposal/

Over the weekend we've been on a weather hold. It looks like the next available launch window will be Jan 6th .@GRIPSballoon

That's it folks, we're scrubbed for the night. Winds are still too high. π

Happy New Year from .@GRIPSballoon as we prepare for launch attempt 3! @hazbain


Support from the galley in town, from a couple of days ago .@GRIPSballoon


The winds from this afternoon have died down a bit. We're back at LDB. Rolling out before the bells! .@GRIPSballoon


What you do at #McMurdo waiting for gentler winds; @GRIPSballoon launch @hazbain @NSF_OPP #Antarctica twitter.com/Calidarien/status/681992803753197570

@GRIPSballoon To all GRIPS and NASA launch teams All our best wishes for a happy and healthy New year of 2016 From: Brazil SOLAR-T team

Latest update: we have a possible launch window at 6:30am tomorrow. That's 9:30am PST. We'll be rolling out at 11:30pm (2:30am PST) tonight!

Due to bad weather, the earliest launch for .@GRIPSballoon will be January 2nd.

Storm system coming through the area, no launch today π .@GRIPSballoon

No @GRIPSballoon launch attempt today. High winds are forecast for this afternoon. #Antarctica

.@GRIPSballoon launch scrubbed for today. Second attempt tomorrow. twitter.com/hazbain/status/681337082598428673

Launch cancelled for today. We'll be showing for a 2nd attempt first thing tomorrow morning .@GRIPSballoon

Wind delay @GRIPSballoon launch, Long Duration Balloon facility Ross Ice Shelf, 10km -McMurdo @hazbain @NDuncanSolar twitter.com/clairaftery/status/681315656055128064

Weather hold #selfie from #Antarctica, waiting for @GRIPSballoon launch.


.@hazbain and @NDuncanSolar waiting out a weather delay for the @GRIPSballoon launch. Watch: www.csbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice.htm


Delayed for another hour to see how the winds around us evolve. It's beautiful at LDB, but we're in an patch of good weather .@GRIPSballoon

Checklists done, @GRIPSballoon is flight ready! Waiting to see if low level winds calm down before moving to launch field.

The @GRIPSballoon is out of the highway, prepping for launch. Watch live here: www.csbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice.htm


Out of the highbay, hooking up to launch vehicle. Live CSBF feed is up www.csbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice.htm

Gondola is buttoned up, check lists are underway and The Boss launch vehicle is moving into position.
Show Media

@GRIPSballoon first launch attempt tomorrow Sunday 7pm PDT (Monday 4pm in #Antarctica)! Watch the live feed here www.csbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice.htm

During the hang test with @NDuncanSolar and @hazbain, plus @GRIPSballoon and PI; note my stylish balloon-tape bangle


@GRIPSballoon hanging from "The Boss" launch vehicle during our successful hang test! Looking forward to launch!!


.@motherboard @DMOberhaus More on #MMS: Currently flying in the tightest satellite formation ever achieved! go.nasa.gov/1YwfBCZ

.@GRIPSBalloon is out for the preflight rediness "hang" test at #LDB. Getting attached to "The Boss" launch vehicle


@GRIPSballoon dress rehearsal for our preflight hang test, where we practiced our rollout and systems checkout


@GRIPSballoon dress rehearsal for our preflight hang test, where we practiced our rollout and systems checkout


@GRIPSballoon dress rehearsal for our preflight hang test, where we practiced our rollout and systems checkout


Preparing to roll out for a dress rehearsal hang test @GRIPSballoon


Movie of Pascal and me each using a manlift to make adjustments to @GRIPSballoon sensors while pointed at the Sun youtu.be/KsCvR7OB9WI

Sad to miss @elonmusk at #AGU15 this year, busy launching the @GRIPSballoon solar flare telescope from #Antarctica


@hazbain with the shields electronics box. Shields catch unwanted light, keeping signals clean. @GRIPSballoon


STO2 next door, with their high bay doors open for pointing tests @GRIPSballoon


.@GRIPSballoon is tweeting as they prepare for launch! More on their launch conditions: go.nasa.gov/1O5w55f


How @GRIPSballoon determines how the telescope is pointed and how the rotating grid is oriented, ask @NDuncanSolar


Pascal placing temperature sensors on the rotator and azimuth motors @GRIPSballoon


@hazbain putting back on the cabling for the @GRIPSballoon anti-coincidence shield, see past tweets by @nickelkelley


The #ANSMET team visited the highway yesterday while they are stuck in McMurdo on a weather delay caslabs.case.edu/ansmet/2015/12/14/making-the-most-of-a-delay/ @GRIPSballoon

Antarctic anticyclone will send 2 scientific balloons flying in circlesβincl @GRIPSballoon! go.nasa.gov/1O5w55f


Center of the launch pad looking back towards LBD, from my quick break yesterday afternoon. @GRIPSballoon


Albert and Amir heading out to calibrate the horizon camera for our aspect system @GRIPSballoon


Focusing the Roll sensor camera before today's testing @GRIPSballoon @Calidarien


Movie of me calibrating the @GRIPSballoon roll sensor, as well as other LDB operations occurring nearby youtu.be/rPQDCGww-Gk

@NDuncanSolar prepping to pump down on the @GRIPSballoon vacuum cryostat for (hopefully) the last time before launch


Software emails the team and pages me for spacecraft hardware emergencies. Always on call. @GRIPSballoon @hazbain


@BrentMochizuki @GRIPSballoon @hazbain @NDuncanSolar looks like GRIPS is blowing out a candle...

Adding temperature control software so parts don't get too cold in space. @hazbain @BrentMochizuki @GRIPSballoon


@GRIPSballoon and the Stratospheric Terahertz Observatory (STO) out for pointing tests. Getting close to launch!


Calibrating the spacecraft Roll sensor. @GRIPSballoon @Calidarien


Our prehistoric astronaut testing his flight seat. @GRIPSballoon


Just to prove it's not always clear blue skies here, today we've had a flurry of fresh snow. @GRIPSballoon


We attach heatsinks to electrical parts in our computers so they don't overheat in space @GRIPSballoon @LoctiteGlue


Dramatic lighting and @NDuncanSolar during today's planned power outage in the @GRIPSballoon high bay


@GRIPSballoon moved into our office in the @AlbertPCrary Lab just in time for the festive decorations.


More of the McMurdo commuter options. Ivan the terra bus @GRIPSBalloon


@GRIPSBalloon testing GPS and line of sight telemetry. @HazBain @NDuncanSolar


@GRIPSBalloon testing GPS and line of sight telemetry. @HazBain @NDuncanSolar


Clear skies yesterday for more pointing control tests. @GRIPSballoon
