An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Photos

Snapshots of what’s happening in the Defense Department.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kristopher Rodriguez prepares to release a weather balloon from the fantail of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk in the Pacific Ocean, July 9, 2008. The radiosonde, a radio transmitter attached to the balloon, has sensors that measure meteorological variables such as wind, temperature, dew point and humidity, sending this information to the observing station. Kitty Hawk is taking part in the Rim of the Pacific 2008.

BALLOON RELEASE

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Kristopher Rodriguez prepares to release a weather balloon from the fantail of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk in the Pacific Ocean, July 9, 2008. The radiosonde, a radio transmitter attached to the balloon, has sensors that measure meteorological variables such as wind, temperature, dew point and humidity, sending this information to the observing station. Kitty Hawk is taking part in the Rim of the Pacific 2008.

Photo Gallery