Continuing weather worries have delayed the launch of Nasa's huge helium balloon from Wanaka Airport for at least another day.
The launch was originally scheduled to take place yesterday morning but the Nasa team closely monitoring Cyclone Pam announced on Friday it had been pushed back, following a meteorological and operational review. It was instead targeting this morning for a release, but on Saturday it advised there would be no balloon launch attempt until tomorrow, at the earliest.
The ultra-long duration or super helium pilot balloon requires extremely calm weather for its take-off and 33.5km ascent.
''If you can feel the wind on your cheek that's when they [Nasa] say `no, too much','' Queenstown Airport Corporation communications manager Jen Andrews said.
''Because it's the first time they've been in Wanaka and this is a test launch, they want the conditions to be perfect, so ... the weather pattern for tropical Cyclone Pam is a cause of concern for them.''
Ms Andrews said Nasa staff had wanted to give the public as much notice as possible about when the balloon would be launched, particularly as there were so many people in town for the Wanaka A&P Show.
''Really, it's just down to the meteorological and operational conditions to have an optimal launch, and they wanted to make a call early enough so it doesn't disrupt people's plans too much.''
An assessment of tomorrow's expected flight conditions will be made by 2pm today.
