Stratospheric Balloon Research Articles

Polarization aberration analysis for the PICTURE-C exoplanetary coronagraph

The Planetary Imaging Concept Testbed Using a Recoverable Experiment - Coronagraph (PICTURE-C) mission will directly image debris disks and exozodiacal dust around nearby stars from a high-altitude balloon using a vector vortex coronagraph. One of the many starlight leakage sources that can degrade the performance of the coronagraph is polarization aberration induced by the reflective optical coatings. A polarization ray trace of the PICTURE-C telescope and coronagraph is combined with a physical optics wavefront propagation simulation to quantify the expected amount of coronagraph leakage due to polarization aberration. The simulations show the leakage is below the budgeted contrast of 1 × 10 − 8.

An open source toolkit for the tracking, termination and recovery of high altitude balloon flights and payloads

We present an open source toolkit of flight-proven electronic devices which can be used to track, terminate and recover high altitude balloon flights and payloads. Comprising a beacon, pyrotechnic and non-pyrotechnic cut-down devices plus associated software, the toolkit can be used to: (i) track the location of a flight via Iridium satellite communication; (ii) release lift and/or float balloons manually or at pre-defined altitudes; (iii) locate the payload after descent. The size and mass of the toolkit make it suitable for use on weather or sounding balloon flights. We describe the technology readiness level of the toolkit, based on over 20 successful flights to altitudes of typically 32,000 m.

Balloon ascent prediction: Comparative study of analytical, fuzzy and regression models

The ascent prediction of high-altitude zero-pressure stratospheric balloons is an important aspect of targeted test flight. Prediction of the balloon ascent rate is the prerequisite for many of the flights as it helps in planning ballasting and valving manoeuvres. In this paper, a standard analytical model, a fuzzy model and a statistical regression model are developed and compared to predict the zero-pressure balloon ascent. The flight data is extracted from the Esrange balloon service system for zero-pressure balloons with different payload capability, and several potential explanatory variables are computed for every sampled climbed segment. For the fuzzy modelling approach, a fuzzy c-mean clustering algorithm is used for system identification and prediction. For the regression approach, a Gaussian process regression is used, and principal component analysis is applied for finding the significant inputs. The result shows that the data driven approaches are more efficient than the standard analytical model.

Global Assimilation of Loon Stratospheric Balloon Observations

AbstractAccurate analyses of stratospheric winds are important for determining realistic constituent transport and providing improved diagnostic studies and forecasts of the stratosphere. This study examines impacts on global meteorological analyses resulting from using winds derived from Loon superpressure balloons in the lower stratosphere (hereafter Loon winds) as additional input observations to the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) data assimilation system. To fully investigate the impacts of assimilating the Loon winds, two steps are taken: (1) comparison of the GEOS analysis winds with Loon winds (Control experiment) and (2) examination of the impacts of assimilating the Loon winds into the GEOS data assimilation system (Loon experiment). The time period selected is June–August 2014 when over 150 Loon balloons were launched, mainly in the Southern Hemisphere. In the middle latitudes, the Loon winds and Control winds agree well (Loon balloon zonal wind observation minus forecast, O − F, root‐mean‐square (RMS) values of ~2.75 m/s) and assimilating the Loon winds has a small impact (O − F RMS values unchanged). In the tropics, the Loon observations and Control analysis winds differ more than in middle latitudes (zonal wind O − F RMS ~3.75 m/s) and assimilating the Loon winds improves the zonal wind O − F RMS by ~1 m/s. In selected cases where the Loon observations and Control analysis differ greatly (O − F RMS values greater than 10 m/s), assimilating Loon winds significantly decreases the zonal wind O − F RMS by 5 m/s. These decreases in O − F RMS values show that the 6‐hr forecasts are improved at the Loon balloon observation locations.

The Possibility of Ultraviolet Enceladus’ Observations from Stratospheric Balloons

Abstract Stratospheric balloons are very important sources for space and terrestrial observation experiments in many disciplines. Instruments developed for astrophysical measurements are usually reusable. It is also possible to observe both hemispheres including observations from the polar and equatorial regions for thirty days or even longer. On the other hand the UV atmospheric transmittance window was used for the astrophysical observations less often than visible optical bands. At the end of the 2017 there are a few scientific groups working on near-UV or UV spectrographs and cameras for balloon flights. In this paper we are discussing the possibility of ultraviolet measurement of Enceladus, an icy Saturnian moon, surface reflectance between 200 and 400 nm from the 20-50 km altitudes. At visible and near infrared optical channels Enceladus’ reflectance is very high (near 1.0). This value is consistent with a surface composed of water ice, however at some ultraviolet wavelengths Enceladus reflectance is lower than it would be expected for this type of surface. The scientific research done in the last decade was focused on H2O, NH3, and tholin particles detection on the Enceladus’ surface as a reason of low UV reflectance phenomenon. Continuous observation of Enceladus’ UV reflectance variability from stratospheric balloons may be interesting and may give us the proof of the presence of biomarkers or/and tholin particles.

Mid-Sea and Land Based Wind Measurement for Technology Demonstrator

This paper presents the requirement and importance of wind data for launch vehicle re-entry missions and describes how the wind measurement and wind profile generation was done effectively for India's first reusable launch vehicle re-entry mission (RLV TD HEX01). The details of ISRO's Pisharoty sonde system, which was used for wind measurement for this mission is also presented. The system provided timely and quality wind data for the DOL-WB of RLV-TD HEX01 mission as per the ascent and descent phase requirements. The scheme for the generation of final wind profile from sonde data, high altitude balloon ascent data, and sounding rocket data, which has to be loaded to the reentry vehicle before liftoff is also described in detail. The augmented scheme with extra ship-based measurements for wind profile generation and backup plan for DOL-WB during both ascent and descent phase proved highly effective. The pressure, temperature, and humidity data collected using the sonde system from both ship-based and SITAR-based measurements, which was vital in atmospheric modeling and prediction during the campaign is also presented in this paper.

Design of Attitude Control System for Stratospheric Balloon Gondolas by Sliding Mode Control

This paper reports consideration of efficient design method for the azimuthal-attitude control of stratospheric balloon gondolas utilizing only a motorized pivot. To maintain sufficient robustness against variation of the model parameters, applying of sliding mode controller is tried and proposed control system is validated by numerical simulation studies.

2018 WSGC Elijah High Altitude Balloon Final Report

The 2018 Elijah Payload Project focused on designing, fabricating, and flying a high-altitude balloon payload. This payload had six different research topics: 360 degree video, atmospheric composition, flight path predictors, radiation sensors, sonification, and lighting fire at high altitudes. Flight predictors were run before and during the flight, and the payload included a separate GPS tracking payload to give us its exact location.Â

Fallen Astronauts: Heroes Who Died Reaching for the Moon

<i>Fallen Astronauts: Heroes Who Died Reaching for the Moon</i>

Results of the missions within JEM-EUSO program

The JEM-EUSO program includes several missions employing fluorescence detectors to make a proof-of-principle of the UHECR observation from space and to raise the technological level of the instrumentation to be employed in a space mission like K-EUSO and POEMMA. EUSO-TA, installed at the Telescope Array (TA) site in Utah in 2013, has already detected 9 UHECRs in coincidence with TA Fluorescence Detector. EUSO-Balloon flew on board a stratospheric balloon in 2014. It measured the UV intensity on forests, lakes and the city of Timmins as well as proved the observation of UHECR-like events by shooting laser tracks. EUSO-SPB was launched on board a Super Pressure Balloon (SPB) in 2017. It proved the functionality of all the subsystems of the telescope on a long term; observed the UV emission on oceans and had a self-trigger system to detect UHECRs. A more ambitious mission (EUSOSPB2) is planned. TUS, on board the Lomonosov satellite in orbit since 2016, has detected a few interesting signals in the UHECR trigger-mode. Mini-EUSO is in a final phase of integration and will be installed inside the International Space Station (ISS) in 2019. The main results obtained so far by these experiments are summarized.

A Fourier transform spectroradiometer for ground-based remote sensing of the atmospheric downwelling long-wave radiance

Abstract. The Radiation Explorer in the Far Infrared – Prototype for Applications and Development (REFIR-PAD) is a Fourier transform spectroradiometer that has been designed to operate from both stratospheric balloon platforms and the ground. It has been successfully deployed in a stratospheric balloon flight and several ground-based campaigns from high-altitude sites, including the current installation at the Italian–French Concordia Antarctic station. The instrument is capable of operating autonomously with only a limited need of remote control and monitoring and provides a multiyear dataset of spectrally resolved atmospheric downwelling radiances, measured in the 100–1500 cm−1 spectral range with 0.4 cm−1 resolution and a radiometric uncertainty of better than 0.85 mW(m2srcm-1)-1.

Cosmic ray direct measurements

Direct measurements on cosmic rays in the energy region between tens MeV/n and few TeV/n have been extensively performed since the sixties by experiments on board stratospheric balloons, satellites, and Space Stations. The main goals have been the search for primordial antimatter, dark matter annihilation signals and exotic particles and the study of the mechanisms of production, acceleration and propagation of cosmic rays. A review of the major results up to an energy of few TeV obtained by the previous and the current experiments is presented in this article.

Incorporation of High-Altitude Balloon Experiment in High School Science Classrooms

We have been launching high-altitude balloons to engage students in science since 2013. Our custom balloon kit allows high school teachers and students to collect environmental data and capture videos. Through our experience interacting with high school students, we have found that the high-altitude balloon experiment is an effective tool for inquiry-based learning to introduce chemistry topics including gas properties, elements and molecules, heat capacity, thermochemistry, electromagnetic radiation, bond breaking and formation, and atmospheric chemical reactions. Examples are given to demonstrate how to incorporate the experiment in high school science classrooms.

高空气球平台地-月成像光谱仪载荷系统热设计

高空气球平台地-月成像光谱仪载荷系统热设计

Engaging Indigenous Youth in Science with the High-Altitude Balloon Experiment

Our custom high-altitude balloon experiment kit with the complete set of instructions has been successfully used to engage high school and post-secondary students across Canada. This article describes how the high-altitude balloon experiment was adapted to engage Indigenous students from two on-reserve schools in science with the presence of an Elder. Based on the results from our research, while the balloon experiment is an effective tool to engage Indigenous students, the project doesn’t change the participants’ interest in science. We are making several suggestions to bring the experiment to its full potential. It would be more beneficial to make the high-altitude balloon experiment as a multi-day workshop or a major component of a science summer camp. Further, it would be more effective to integrate the balloon experiment into the high school science curriculum rather than run it as an independent event in the on-reserve schools. Finally, we are suggesting how student participation of the survey can be improved for on-reserve schools.

Balloon-borne Cosmic Microwave Background experiments

Stratospheric balloon experiments play a unique role in current Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) studies. CMB research has entered a precision phase, harvesting the detailed properties of its anisotropy, polarization and spectrum, at incredible precision levels. These measurements, however, require careful monitoring and subtraction of local backgrounds, produced by the earth atmosphere and the interstellar medium. High frequencies (larger than 180 GHz) are crucial for the measurements of interstellar dust contamination, but are degraded by atmospheric emission and its fluctuations, even in the best (cold and dry) sites on earth. For this reason, new balloon-borne missions, exploiting long-duration and ultra-long duration stratospheric flights, are being developed in several laboratories worldwide. These experiments have the double purpose of qualifying instrumentation and validating methods to be used on satellite missions, and produce CMB science at a relatively fast pace, synergically to ground-based CMB observatories.

Results from the first missions of the JEM-EUSO program

The origin and nature of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECRs) remain unsolved in contemporary astroparticle physics. To give an answer to these questions is rather challenging because of the extremely low flux of a few per km2 per century at extreme energies such as E &gt; 5 × 1019 eV. The objective of the JEM-EUSO program, Extreme Universe Space Observatory, is the realization of a space mission devoted to scientific research of cosmic rays of highest energies. Its super-wide-field telescope will look down from space onto the night sky to detect UV photons emitted from air showers generated by UHECRs in the atmosphere. The JEM-EUSO program includes different missions using fluorescence detectors to make a proof-of-principle of the UHECR observation from space and to raise the technological level of the instrumentation to be employed in a space mission. EUSO-TA, installed at the Telescope Array site in Utah in 2013, is in operation. It has already detected 9 UHECRs in coincidence with Telescope Array fluorescence detector at Black Rock Mesa. EUSO-Balloon flew on board a stratospheric balloon in August 2014. It measured the UV intensity on forests, lakesandthecityofTimminsaswellasprovedtheobservationofUHECR-likeeventsbyshootinglasertracks. EUSO-SPB was launched on board a super pressure balloon on April 25th and flew for 12 days. It proved the functionality of all the subsystems of the telescope on a typical duration of a balloon flight; observed the UV emission on oceans and has a self-trigger system to observe UHECRs with energy E &gt; 3×1018 eV. TUS, the Russian mission on board the Lomonosov satellite in orbit since April 28th 2016, is now included in the JEMEUSO program and has detected so far in the UHECR trigger-mode a few interesting signals. Mini-EUSO is in its final phase of integration in Italy, where several performance tests are being held. Mini-EUSO will be installed inside the International Space Station (ISS) in 2019. The main results obtained so far by such missions are summarized and put in prospect of future space detectors such as K-EUSO and POEMMA.

A multi-location joint field observation of the stratosphere and troposphere over the Tibetan Plateau

The unique geographical location and high altitude of the Tibetan Plateau can greatly influence regional weather and climate. In particular, the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) anticyclone circulation system over the Tibetan Plateau is recognized to be a significant transport pathway for water vapor and pollutants to enter the stratosphere. To improve understanding of these physical processes, a multi-location joint atmospheric experiment was performed over the Tibetan Plateau from late July to August in 2018, funded by the five-year (2018–2022) STEAM (stratosphere and troposphere exchange experiment during ASM) project, during which multiple platforms/instruments—including long-duration stratospheric balloons, dropsondes, unmanned aerial vehicles, special sounding systems, and ground-based and satellite-borne instruments—will be deployed. These complementary methods of data acquisition are expected to provide comprehensive atmospheric parameters (aerosol, ozone, water vapor, CO2, CH4, CO, temperature, pressure, turbulence, radiation, lightning and wind); the richness of this approach is expected to advance our comprehension of key mechanisms associated with thermal, dynamical, radiative, and chemical transports over the Tibetan Plateau during ASM activity.

The short wavelength instrument for the polarization explorer balloon‐borne experiment: Polarization modulation issues

In this paper we investigate the impact of using a polarization modulator in The Short Wavelength Instrument for the Polarization Explorer (SWIPE) of the large scale polarization explorer (LSPE). The experiment is optimized to measure the linear polarization of the cosmic microwave background at large angular scales during a circumpolar long‐duration stratospheric balloon mission, and uses multimode bolometers cooled to .3 K. The 330 detectors cover three bands at 140, 220, and 240 GHz. Polarimetry is achieved by means of a large rotating half‐wave plate (HWP) and a single wire‐grid polarizer in front of the arrays. The polarization modulator is the first polarization‐active component of the optical chain, reducing significantly the effect of instrumental polarization. A trade‐off study comparing stepped versus spinning HWPs drives the choice towards the second. Modulating the cosmic microwave background polarization signal at four times the spin frequency moves it away from 1/f noise from the detectors and the residual atmosphere. The HWP is cooled to 1.6 K to reduce the background on the detectors. Furthermore, its polarized emission combined with the emission of the polarizer produces spurious signals modulated at 2f and 4f. The 4f component is synchronous with the signal of interest and has to characterized to be removed from cosmological data.

Inflatable antenna for a nanosatellite

A topical problem for near-Earth orbit nanosatellites is the creation of a reliable inflatable antenna. The nanosatellite antenna should be small-sized and should take the given form after launching into orbit. This paper proposes a technology for manufacturing an inflatable antenna from prepreg which is hardened in space orbit. At the same time, all the advantages of inflatable antennas are preserved (small volume and weight, simplicity of design and reliability of bringing into working condition, long-distance steady communication). Small dust particles moving at cosmic speeds cannot damage such an antenna. There is also no need to constantly pump gas into the inflatable elements of the antenna, hence there is no need for mechanisms to provide adjustment of gas supply, additional tanks with gas or tanks with chemical elements to obtain it. The process of selecting a suitable reaction mixture for pre-preg hardening is considered in the paper, the main criteria for the selection being low volatility of its components and hot hardening ability. The results of stratospheric balloon flight with pre-preg samples are given. The design of the inflatable antenna is proposed.