For BOOMERANG (Balloon Observations of Millimetric Extragalactic Radiation and Geophysics)

[ Spanish Version | Contact | ¿What is StratoCat? | Greatefulness ]

Launch site:National Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas, US  
Launch team: National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF)
Balloon: Open balloon (zero pressure)
Volume: Raven 28X - 800.000 m3
Serial number: -
Flight identification number: 1555P
Campaign: - 
Payload weight: 4539 lbs
Gondola weight: -
Overall weight: -

The balloon was launched on August 12 by dynamic method. Initially the ascent was smooth but balloon stopped ascending at 81.000 ft so decision was made to stop the flight early. Apparently ingested air after the launch thus float altitude was not reached.

The payload landed in a pond about 70 miles west of Palestine. Due to early termination at low altitude which reduced the shock of the parachute opening and a soft landing in mud, the payload was in remarkably good condition so the scientific experience was succesfully reflown on August 30 (flight 1559P).

BOOMERANG (Balloon Observations of Millimetric Extragalactic Radiation and Geophysics)

Responsable institution:  University of Rome, la Sapienza / California Institute of Technology
Principal Investigator:  Prof. Paolo de Bernardis / Dr. Andrew Lange

This telescope is the culmination of a great cooperative effort between Italian and American teams. It was designed to have the angular resolution and sensitivity necessary to measure the angular power spectrum of anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background at sub-degree scales, a region where there is a wealth of cosmological information.

The telescope consists of a 1.3m off-axis paraboloidal mirror feeding a pair of cold (1.5 K) ellipsoidal mirrors which reimage the prime focus onto an array of feed horns. These concentrate the incoming radiation onto bolometric detectors, cooled to 0.3 Kelvin by a helium refrigerator.

The pointing system consists of a pair of flywheels which torque the telescope against the flight train of the balloon. The rotation rate is adjusted via feedback from rate gyroscopes, a magnetometer, and tilt sensors. The telescope is fully pointable in azimuth, and can tip between 35 and 55 degrees in elevation. An on-board optical star-tracking camera allows accurate post-flight reconstruction of pointing.