Soaring High Above Antarctica: The UH Balloon Mission Aims to Unravel the Secrets of the Universe
Video News Release
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
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Posted: January 8, 2026
Check out the launch video here (Credit: NASA/Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility): https://go.hawaii.edu/pPD. Please note that around 2:47 in the video, some solar panels are transitioned from their stowed position to the flight configuration. These panels must be secured in front of the lower antennas during takeoff and then adjusted to ensure that all antennas have a clear line of sight to the ice sheets beneath them.
On December 20 (or December 19 in Eastern Standard Time), a state-of-the-art scientific balloon carrying an innovative instrument for space exploration successfully ascended over Antarctica, continuing the proud tradition of research initiated at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
This mission, known as the Payload for Ultrahigh Energy Observations (PUEO), reached an impressive altitude of approximately 120,000 feet and is now floating above the expansive Antarctic ice, diligently gathering important data.
You can track the balloon's journey in real-time at this link: https://www.csbf.nasa.gov/map/balloon9/flight760N.htm.
PUEO is specifically designed to observe incredibly small particles called neutrinos, which traverse space with astonishing energy levels. When these elusive particles collide with the dense Antarctic ice, they generate fleeting radio signals. From its elevated position, the balloon-borne instrument is equipped to detect these signals, utilizing the ice below as a natural sensor.
By monitoring these emissions, researchers hope to uncover insights into significant cosmic events, including the formation of black holes and the collisions between ultra-dense stars. Additionally, the mission includes two companion balloons that emit test signals to verify the proper functioning of the PUEO instrument. This ambitious project is anticipated to remain aloft for several weeks as it drifts around the continent, collecting valuable information.
Professor Peter Gorham from the Department of Physics and Astronomy remarked, “This mission illustrates how ideas originating from Hawaiʻi can evolve through years of collaboration and commitment into groundbreaking discoveries that address some of the most pressing questions about our universe. It encapsulates the ingenuity and determination of our students, researchers, and engineers, signaling a future where UH research continues to significantly contribute to global scientific advancements.”
Building on a Legacy of Antarctic Research
PUEO builds upon previous efforts spearheaded by UH researchers through the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA), which completed four successful balloon flights between 2006 and 2016. This prior initiative pioneered a novel approach to studying high-energy particles using radio waves detected over Antarctica. ANITA also observed unusual particle events that continue to intrigue scientists today. With enhanced sensitivity and modern technology, PUEO seeks to deepen the understanding of these phenomena and answer lingering questions from earlier studies.
This mission marks the second high-altitude scientific balloon launched from Antarctica this season featuring significant involvement from UH. Just days before, on December 15, another balloon lifted off, carrying the General AntiParticle Spectrometer experiment, which aims to find rare cosmic antimatter related to dark matter. Together, these missions underscore UH’s expanding role in NASA's balloon research initiatives, leveraging Antarctica’s distinct environment to explore fundamental questions about the universe.
The PUEO mission is led by Professor Abigail Vieregg from the University of Chicago, with the Department of Physics and Astronomy situated within UH Mānoa’s College of Natural Sciences.
