The space giants have placed a poppy on the balloon's payload, to commemorate Anzac Day.
The balloon will be collecting scientific data from what NASA describes as "near space".
UPDATED 11.04am
NASA's super-pressure balloon has launched from Wanaka Airport on its eighth attempt.
The balloon, which will inflate to around the size of Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium, left the ground about 10.50am on Tuesday.
Webcam footage showed the balloon, yet to properly inflate, rising into the clear sky above Central Otago.
The seven previous attempts, the last of which was on Saturday morning, were called off because of unfavourable winds.
NASA is hoping the test research balloon will set a record by flying for 100 days at more than 33km above the earth.
It's the third year NASA has been in Wanaka to launch a balloon. The first balloon in 2015 achieved 32 days of flight, while 46 days was notched up in 2016.
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