A stadium sized balloon has successfully launched from Wānaka Airport - after several cancellations.

The super-pressure NASA balloon will travel the Southern Hemisphere’s mid-latitudes for planned missions of 100 days or more. 

It's the sixth balloon operation in New Zealand since 2015, with two balloons successfully launched from Wānaka in 2023.

NASA's Debbie Fairbrother says safety was a key priority in getting the balloon launched. 

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