The Meander boat in Arctic waters. Photo from Polar Expedition Status Quo 23. February 2026 page 18.

2026 Polar Expedition Following Salomon Andrée’s Path

live tracking map

From June 11th through 24th our staff here at the Balloon Museum will be using the Polar Steps app to follow the journey of our Polar Expedition partners. Any updates we receive will be added to the travel log below. The Balloon Museum, along with the Balloon Museum Foundation, Kubicek Balloons, Holly Balloons, Fub, Molly and Greg Winker,  Avilu Certified Flight School, Gruppo Aerostatico Ticino, and Aero Club Lugano are official sponsors of the 2026 Polar Expedition Following Salomon Andrée’s Path.

This Polar Expedition team of twelve will be flying the hot air balloon HB-BAS over the Arctic. During this treacherous journey the team will face freezing temperatures creating the risk of frostbite and malnutrition. Traveling through the Arctic they also run the risk of experiencing snow blindness; having encounters with polar bears; and needing to navigate water-based landings. In order to prepare for this excursion, and to obtain the proper clearances required, the team has to complete rigorous training regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway (CAA). 

Some of the topics covered in the training included: 

• managing sleep in a geographic location and time of year where and when the sun never sets;
• survival tactics to utilize if trapped in an avalanche;
• launching from a boat;
• landing in deep snow and Arctic water;
• constructing an emergency shelter;
• caring for injuries without access to a hospital;
• thermoregulation: consuming double the calorie requirement due to the cold;
• and more.

Throughout this excursion, the Polar Expedition team will be capturing video footage which will culminate into a documentary. This debut of this documentary will be featured in the Balloon Museum's Anderson Theater.

"The film [will] document an extraordinary expedition: a balloon flight dedicated to high-precision isotope measurement. It [intends to] weave together modern science with the historic legacy of polar exploration, echoing the voyages of Salomon Andrée and the Amundsen-Nobile flights to the North Pole. Exactly 100 years later, we are the first to plan balloon launches from both historic sites—Danskøya and Ny-Ålesund. The narrative thread of the film is the impact of climate change, centered around the research conducted by Mario Meier and Alex Weitnauer." —Excerpt from Polar Expedition Status Quo 23.

Come visit the Balloon Museum and explore the Arctic Air: The Bold Flight of S.A. Andrée exhibit to learn about the journey to the North Pole 100 years ago.

Research Project

Real-time Measurements of Water Vapor Isotopes in the Arctic Atmosphere

"Isotope measurements involve measuring the weight of the oxygen/vapor mixture in the air. This project is a follow-up to the air measurements from 2010 on Kilimanjaro, in which part of the team participated. These specific measurements have never been performed before. The project is being led by EMPA. EMPA is collaborating on this project with the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven." —Excerpt from Polar Expedition—Hot Air Ballooning with the SV Meander in Svalbard, June 2026. 

"While strict nature conservation rules limit most travel to Svalbard, our role as a research expedition opens doors that stay closed to regular tourism. We get to experience places that are off-limits to the general public. We’re not just there for the data though—we want to capture the magic of this untouched landscape in stunning footage and share the story of the Arctic’s fragile beauty."—Excerpt from Polar Expedition Status Quo 23. February 2026 page 17.

Map A provides an overview of the Svalbard region where the expedition will take place. Map B highlights areas where they anticipate launching.  Images from Polar Expedition Status Quo 23. February 2026 pages 6 and 7.

Pre-Expedition Training

The Meander

"With the CAA training complete, travel permits in-hand, and survival gear packed the Polar Expedition team is ready to retrace the historic path of Salomon Andrée and also forge their own. This journey begins on their boat, the Meander. "The Meander was built in 1946 at a German shipyard in Hamburg. This shipyard in Finkenwerder was known at the time for building strong ships and constructed the Meander with an ice strengthened hull. This means that the Meander can operate without problems in the Arctic. The traditional rigging and the robust hull make this two-masted staysail schooner a particularly seaworthy sailing vessel. Due to its hull shape and length, the Meander moves smoothly in waves. Thanks to the easy handling of the sails and the good sailing characteristics, even people without sailing experience can actively participate in sailing."—Excerpt from Polar Expedition Status Quo 23. February 2026 page 4.

The Meander boat in Arctic waters. Photo from Polar Expedition Status Quo 23. February 2026 page 10.

Live Tracking

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Travel Log (Stay Tuned)

Expedition Updates:

As this monumental journey continues to unfold beginning June 11th through 24th. Our team here at the Balloon Museum will also be adding any updates we receive directly from the Polar Expedition team and those updates will be added to this travel log on this page.

6/11/26 (5am MST) Kloten, Switzerland

6/11/26 (12pm MST) Ullensaker, Norway

6/12/26 (6:30am MST) Longyearbyen, Norway

'Today, further preparations are underway. Among other things, a test run of the laser spectrometer is on the agenda. After that, we will know whether the sensitive measuring instrument has withstood the transport well."—Polar Expedition Team

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