Abstract
The Balloon-borne Large Aperture Sub-millimeter Telescope (BLAST) incorporates a two meter primary mirror with large-format bolometer arrays consisting of 149, 88, and 43 elements operating at 250, 350 and 500 μm, respectively. The combination of the dramatically increased atmospheric transmission at balloon altitudes and the extended observing time (10–20 days) afforded by a long duration balloon flight will enable the first sensitive, large-area (≫10 deg2) sub-mm surveys at these wavelengths. These surveys will address some of the most important galactic and cosmological questions regarding the formation and evolution of stars, galaxies, and clusters as well as the source(s) of the cosmic infrared background. The BLAST focal plane will consist of arrays of silicon nitride micromesh, “spider-web” bolometric detectors operating at 300 mK coupled to 2 fλ feedhorn arrays. The first overnight test flight of BLAST is scheduled for autumn of 2002, and the first long duration balloon flight is scheduled to be from McMurdo, Antarctica in 2003–2004.
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