Engineers Develop Balloon Telescope to Study Exoplanet Atmospheres

Balloon-based astronomy offers a cost-effective alternative to space telescopes for exoplanet research.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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A new project called EXCITE (EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope) is pioneering the use of high-altitude balloons to study exoplanet atmospheres. Unlike traditional space telescopes, EXCITE is carried by a balloon to an altitude of 40 kilometers, minimizing atmospheric interference for infrared observations crucial to mapping temperature distributions and chemical compositions of distant 'hot Jupiter' exoplanets.

Why it matters

Balloon-based astronomy provides a more affordable and flexible platform for exoplanet research compared to expensive space telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope. EXCITE's ability to capture continuous phase curve observations over several days offers key advantages over orbital telescopes that face interruptions from Earth's shadow and thermal fluctuations.

The details

The EXCITE telescope carries a 0.5 meter primary mirror and a spectrograph with coverage from 0.8–3.5 um, allowing it to observe the peak spectral energy distribution of target exoplanets and detect signatures of molecules like hydrogen and carbon compounds. A successful test flight in 2024 demonstrated the viability of EXCITE's stabilization and cooling systems, though some minor technical issues were identified and are being addressed.

  • The EXCITE test flight took place in August 2024 over Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
  • The first long-duration Antarctic flight is scheduled for 2026-2027.

The players

EXCITE

The EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope project, which is pioneering the use of high-altitude balloons to study exoplanet atmospheres.

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

A large, expensive space telescope that faces limitations in observing bright stars and dealing with thermal fluctuations.

Hubble Space Telescope

An orbital telescope that also suffers from temperature fluctuations that can affect its observations.

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What’s next

The first long-duration Antarctic flight of EXCITE is scheduled for 2026-2027. Success in this mission will pave the way for a significant increase in the number of exoplanet phase curves obtained, leading to a deeper understanding of climate dynamics, atmospheric chemistry, and weather patterns on distant worlds.

The takeaway

Balloon-based astronomy offers a cost-effective and flexible alternative to traditional space telescopes for exoplanet research. The EXCITE project demonstrates the potential of this approach to capture detailed data on exoplanet atmospheres, which could revolutionize our understanding of climate and weather patterns on distant worlds.