Peraton has been selected by NASA to continue operating the agency’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas.
The NASA Balloon Operations Contract II awarded to Peraton is worth up to $339.1 million over seven years.
Each year, 10 to 15 missions are launched worldwide through NASA’s scientific balloon program in support of experiments, technology development and education across all of NASA’s science disciplines.
Under this contract, Peraton will operate facilities to maintain the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility and provide engineering services and balloon flight support, including launching, tracking and recovery of scientific balloons and payloads, as well as operational support, quality control, and balloon research and development.
Peraton employees have supported NASA’s balloon operations for more than five years. Through this partnership, Peraton achieved a record of mission success by exceeding requirements, including a 100% mission success run over the past 12 months.
Peraton also introduced many improvements and processes to develop a more reliable and disciplined balloon program.