The EUSO-SPB Mission

The Extreme Universe Space Observatory on a super pressure balloon~(EUSO-SPB) mission will make the first fluorescence observations of high energy cosmic ray extensive air showers by looking down on the atmosphere from near~space.~EUSO-SPB~follows a successful overnight flight in August 2014 of the JEM-EUSO prototype mission named~EUSO-Balloon. EUSO-Balloon recorded artificial tracks and pulses that were generated by a laser and optical flashers that were flown in a~helicopter under the balloon. Preparations are underway for~EUSO-SPB with the potential for a flight of 50 days duration. The planned launch site is Wanaka, New Zealand.~~We describe the mission, the updated instrument, and expected detection rates~of extensive air showers events produced by cosmic primaries.~