Mapping the Space Between Stars: NASA's GUSTO Balloon Telescope Takes Flight

NASA is set to launch the GUSTO experiment, which involves a balloon telescope floating over Antarctica to gather data and create a 3D map of a portion of the Milky Way Galaxy. The telescope will study the interstellar medium, looking for signals of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen to understand how stars and planets form. The mission will also reveal the 3D structure of the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy near the Milky Way. GUSTO is part of NASA's Explorers Program, which aims to provide flight opportunities for scientific investigations in space.