After five failed attempts last year, NASA has launched one of its super pressure balloons from Wanaka.
The football-field-sized balloon was one of two that NASA plans to launch from the Wanaka Airport this year.
Balloons have been making headlines, after the US shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon in its airspace earlier this year.
Ingrid Hipkiss spoke to NASA's Balloon programme office chief Debbie Fairbrother.
