Space agency launches high-altitude balloon on 2nd attempt

The Canadian Space Agency says it has successfully launched the first stratospheric balloon in Canada under a joint Canadian-French program.

Wednesday night's launch was the second attempt after a launch planned for Monday night had to be scrubbed due to unfavourable weather.

The balloon was launched from Timmins, Ont., at 8:35 p.m. ET and is to ascend to nearly 32 kilometres, and fly for about four to ten hours.

The agency says it should land in a 500 kilometre radius area from the launch site.

If the wind blows east, it could land in Quebec close to Rouyn-Noranda, Amos or Val d'Or. If it blows west, it could land close to the Ontario communities of Wawa, Kapuskasing, Chapleau or Sudbury.

The balloon is designed to give Canadian scientists a new platform to advance space science for up to 40 times less than the cost of a satellite or a launcher.