Polar patrol balloon

The National Institute of Polar Research and the Institute of Space and Astronomical Science launched two large zero-pressure balloons from Syowa Station, the Japanese research base in Antarctica. The balloon launched on Dec 25, 1994, achieved a total circumpolar flight over Antarctica. These Polar Patrol Balloons (PPB) employ a ballast control system to automatically regulate the ceiling height. PPBs can help study electric and magnetic fields, auroral X-rays, ozone, NOx and astronomical features such as isotope separation of cosmic rays, gamma ray bursts and low energy antiparticles in cosmic rays.