Operating a new French balloon system from a new Canadian launch site

Abstract

The French space agency (Centre National d’ Etudes Spatiales, CNES) and The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) are partnering to launch space science balloons in Canada. On one hand, Canada will provide and maintain the brand new mid-latitude launch site in Timmins, Ontario, designed with CNES support, and built by the City of Timmins, as well as several key services such as the aerostat post flight recoveries, the coordination with flight authorities and various ground safety services. On the other hand, CNES will supply and operate the aerostats, now equipped with a new command control system named NOSYCA, and offer frequent flight opportunities worldwide to the Canadian user’s community, thereby providing an ideal platform for scientists and engineers to test technologies and advance space science. In over 40 years, CNES has developed a vast experience in the field of stratospheric balloon flights, with more than 3 500 launches from a worldwide network of sites. Yet, taking into account the rising population density in the over flown areas, the increasing safety requirements and the need for a more reliable and performing system for scientific payloads management, CNES decided five years ago to develop a complete (onboard and ground segments) new operational system. NOSYCA takes advantage of the CNES knowhow in the field of balloon avionics, and of up to date technologies like IP or Wi-Fi communication links, low consumption onboard transceivers, and the use of specifically qualified COTS. In parallel, CNES was also looking for a launch site at mid-latitude for science missions (among them PILOT, an astronomy payload) using large stratospheric balloons, flying for more than ten hours: Timmins has been identified as the best location in Canada based on rigorous selection criteria. The latitude, wind and weather conditions, the low population density in key areas surrounding the city and optimal on-site infrastructure meet the stringent national and international security regulations governing balloon launch and recovery systems. Timmins also has the advantage of offering good launch conditions all year-round, as well an ease of access via an airport serviced by multiple airlines on a daily basis. This paper presents both the new CNES aerostat system, the Timmins launch site infrastructure, and the preparation status of the first launch campaign in Canada, foreseen in 2013.