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NASA's PICTURE-D Successfully Launches, Misreported as Crash

10/16/2025

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Summary

Story summary

NASA's PICTURE-D instrument launched from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, on October 1, 2025.
The balloon landed in Texas after 20 hours.
Local reports mistakenly claimed it crashed.
Christopher Mendillo, principal investigator, said the flight was carefully monitored and planned.
The PICTURE-D project, developed since 2005 with a $7 million grant, aims to image exoplanets and has produced Gamma Cassiopeiae binary star system imagery, with missions planned for 2026 or 2027.

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Story summary

NASA's PICTURE-D instrument launched from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, on October 1, 2025.
The balloon landed in Texas after 20 hours.
Local reports mistakenly claimed it crashed.
Christopher Mendillo, principal investigator, said the flight was carefully monitored and planned.
The PICTURE-D project, developed since 2005 with a $7 million grant, aims to image exoplanets and has produced Gamma Cassiopeiae binary star system imagery, with missions planned for 2026 or 2027.