For ARCADE (Absolute Radiometer for Cosmology, Astrophysics, and Diffuse Emission)

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Launch site:National Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas, US  
Launch team: National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF)
Balloon: Open balloon (zero pressure)
Volume: W 29.47 (0.8 mil)
Serial number: -
Flight identification number: ABT#19
Campaign: - 
Payload weight: 5066 lbs
Gondola weight: -
Overall weight: 6000 lbs

Several seconds after the balloon was released from the spool, the explosive bolt fired for reasons not known.

The balloon detached from the flight train and continued ascent. The payload was not released from the pin, and did not sustain damage. The collar was not released, causing the balloon to fail after an ascent of 20-25 minutes.

The balloon impacted without incident in a clear area 3-4 nm northwest of Palestine airport.  

ARCADE (Absolute Radiometer for Cosmology, Astrophysics, and Diffuse Emission)

Responsable institution:  NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
Principal Investigator:  Dr. Alan Kogut

A high altitude balloon payload designed to study the early universe and composed by two radiometers at 10 and 30 ghz mounted in a liquid helium dewar.

It measures the frequency spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), to search for signals from the first stars to form after the Big Bang. The instrument compares the measured CMB frequency spectrum of CMB radiation at centimeter wavelengths by comparing the heat from deep space to an on-board blackbody calibrator.

To reduce the signal from the instrument itself, the entire instrument is maintained near absolute zero in an open bucket dewar, which is the largest open-aperture cryogenic payload ever to fly on a balloon.

As an additional scientific attraction was mounted on a side of the gondola a experimental camera called "COSMOCAM" transmitting live from the stratosphere via internet.