Ian Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋4d ago
Here's a mystery... a flock of ADS-B equipped balloons, currently assuming uncrewed, flying over Portland at 40,000+ ft / 12000+ m. Their callsigns start with NSL, which sounds like Near-Space Labs, which is a stratospheric imagery startup. But not certain with several other possible uses of the TLA, which could be #weather balloons. https://globe.airplanes.live/?icao=000212&filtercallsign=NSL #aviation #avgeek #balloon
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋
I got a picture of one of the mystery balloons. These are standard latex balloons like NWS uses every day for weather balloons. This one was transmitting on ADS-B with the callsign NSL0367. It was at 41,000ft' altitude over Vancouver, Washington at a distance of 10 nautical miles (11mi, 18km) northwest of me. At that altitude the balloon could be about 20ft / 6m diameter. #aviation #avgeek #balloon
May 28 at 12:35amWeb
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋4d ago
All four of the mystery "NSL" balloons have landed. Remarkably, three of them landed in the exact same place. So they must have some directional control on the descent. #aviation #avgeek #balloon
Show threadtedder4d ago
@ikluft saw it on ADSB and wondered if it was transmitting something.
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋4d ago
@tedder If NSL means Near-Space Labs then they do aerial imagery. These four balloons could have been an update of the Portland metro area's aerial maps. I had a pretty good idea how to spot it because I used to lead teams that chased and recovered similar Ham Radio equipped balloons for various researchers including NASA Ames. I knew with the Sun behind me I should be able to see it with binoculars.
Show threadtedder4d ago

RE: https://mastodon.world/@YakyuNightOwl/116626576913104089

@ikluft I was just coming here to tell you I figured out NSL, yeah.

Lots of people do imagery with planes, wonder what their advantage is. Last saw one a few days ago: https://pdx.social/@YakyuNightOwl@mastodon.world/116626576954963657

Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋4d ago

@tedder Cost to get to and loiter at 40,000ft altitude is a difference. But recovery of the balloons requires different crew and logistical costs.

Also, balloons can surprise you where they land, I've knocked on a door of a house where we thought it fell in the backyard. The woman who answered the door thought we were crazy, checked and then "it's here, come in and get it." Another time one was visible from a road on private property at the top of the only tree for 1/4mi in any direction.