Purpose of the flight and payload description

The HEROES project is an advanced version of NASA's successful High Energy Replicated Optics telescope, or HERO, first flown on a balloon by Marshall Center researchers in 2001 to detect distant X-ray sources in space. HEROES is specially aimed to observe solar flares with 100 times better sensitivity and 50 times more dynamic range than the best solar observations to date. This novel instrument also provides new views (improved angular resolution and sensitivity) of hard X-ray astrophysical targets. This effort takes advantage of the experience at MSFC gained from past HERO (High Energy Replicated Optics) telescope flights as well as the experience at GSFC to develop instrumentation for solar observations and perform quality solar data analysis.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 9/21/2013 at 11:50 utc
Launch site: Scientific Flight Balloon Facility, Fort Sumner, (NM), US  
Balloon launched by: Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon Raven - 39.570.000 cu ft - (0.8 Mil.)
Balloon serial number: W 39.57-2-95
Flight identification number: 645N
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/22/2013 at 14:31 utc
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): ~ 26 h
Landing site: SW of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, US

External references

Images of the mission

Close-up view of the HEROES payload on the flight line. The balloon has been fully inflated and the payload is ready to be launched (Image Credit: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center/Emmet Givens) Side view of the HEROES payload, the flight line and balloon just prior to launch. (Image Credit: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center/Emmet Given) The HEROES balloon has just been released. This happens just prior to the gondola release. (Image Credit: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center/Emmet Given) A view from the edge of space, taken by an onboard camera mounted on heroes gondola frame. (Image credit: R. Salter, Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility) The HEROES payload makes a perfect landing (Image Credit: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center/Emmet Given)

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