Transporting 30,000 Pounds of Scientific Balloons

Independent Landstar Agent Jamie Gwynn and his agency’s Logistics Coordinator Natalie Bohush managed the move for the facility. Once the logistics plan was in place, the freight was loaded in owner-operator Jason Mollett’s straight van for the trip to New Mexico.

“I do have a heater in my van and it had to be disabled for this load, because of lithium batteries that are associated with the freight,” says Mollett.

Mollett, who leased on to Landstar in 2012, also had the right equipment for the haul. Mollett says he runs with a lift gate, pallet jack and various pieces of extra securement equipment so he can always provide the best customer service possible.

Jason Mollett:

“The pallet jack and lift gate came in handy on this haul.  When I arrived in Fort Sumner with the freight, it allowed us to safely unload the balloons, which gave the customer peace of mind.”

The 400-foot diameter, high altitude research balloons track and recover scientific experiments (payloads) suspended beneath them for NASA centers and universities all over the world. 

The standard scientific balloons have a thickness comparable to a sandwich bag, can carry 8,000 pounds and fly up to 26 miles high. Once in flight, the balloons are designed to stay in an area for up to two weeks.

The payload attached to the balloon collects data as the balloon floats through the atmosphere. Scientists say it is the easiest, most cost effective way to collect important data about the universe, galaxies, stars and planets.

Mollet:

“Learning about how these things work and what they are capable of was the best part of hauling this load. I get to go home and tell my kids the neat stuff I haul. This is one they won’t forget.”

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