NASA has launched a giant super-pressure balloon from Wānaka Airport.

Previous attempts were postponed because of weather conditions but the balloon, which was the size of a rugby stadium, went up shortly before 10am on Thursday.

NASA was planning two flights to test its balloon technology and take measurements of the atmosphere.

The first balloon would travel the South Hemisphere's mid-latitudes for 100 days or more, carrying instruments to take measurements more than 100km above the Earth's surface.

NASA said it would help scientists predict changes in the ionosphere that affected communication and navigation systems.

A second balloon flight would support several scientific missions, including measuring light and sound waves in the Earth's atmosphere.

The balloon, with a volume of 532,000 cubic metres, would float at an altitude of about 33km, well above the altitude of a commercial plane.

It marked the sixth campaign in New Zealand since 2015, with the most recent being two successful launches in 2023.

Wānaka Airport said the best viewing points were on the hill on the Hāwea side of the Red Bridge by Kane Road or on the Hāwea Flat side of the Clutha River.