What a Ride!

After exploring around the area for a while, some of the scientists began to set up their hot-air balloon. They brought it to study caves and cave entrances from above the ground. NASA wants to be able to detect caves on Mars by looking from above, so these scientists are going to figure out how to do that.

Anyway, it was pretty exciting to watch the balloon inflate. Then, Jim, the pilot, said he would take a couple of small travelers up a few feet for practice. Since I was the smallest traveler in the area, I got to go up in the hot air balloon!



It was so exciting! And so much fun! I hope I can go for a longer and higher ride some day!



Dan Wray took this picture. It is one of my favorites so far on this trip. It shows the balloon which was the first way the men flew a long time ago. It also shows the moon which is the goal of all the scientists, teachers and polar bears here. We want to help find processes that will help astronauts live and work on that moon. Beautiful.