Some preliminary considerations about scientific ballooning in Brazil
Besides the fact that the brazilian balloon program being carried out since late 60's by the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) count with a full-fledged permanent launch base in Cachoeira Paulista, one intrinsec characteristic of the country is that due to the extension of it's territory, it offers a vast network of small airports along several states, which were used in a regular basis or sporadically to perform balloon launches, both to serve the local research program, but also as part of international campaigns.
First we will focus our attention on the permanent balloon launch bases (both actual and past), and then we will examine the dozens of airports and other sites that were used for the activity in Brazil.
Still active. Main Brazil's operative base since 1982
Estimated number of launches done: 50
Brazil's main operative launch base between 1968 and 1982.
Estimated number of launches done there: 40
Still active irregularly. Uses an open field for balloon launches adjacent to meteorological station
Estimated number of launches done there since 1978: 100
Used to perform only one launch during a NASA expedition for the total eclipse of Sun in 1966.
Used to perform stratospheric balloon launches between end of the 70's decade and 1982
Estimated number of launches done: 15
Used during a NASA expedition to observe the total Sun eclipse of 1966.
Total number of launches performed there: 3
Used during the MASCO telescope balloon launch campaign in 2003 and 2004.
Total number of launches performed: 2
Used very sporadically between late 80's and early 90's.
Total number of launches performed: 3
Used for stratospheric balloon launches in 1979 and then again in late 90's.
Total number of launches performed: 10
Used between 2004 and 2008 for several balloon launch campaigns by CNES
Total number of launches performed: 21
Used very sporadically during 80's decade to launch big volume balloons.
Total number of launches performed: 4
Used as balloon launch site during a single campaign in 2006.
Total number of launches performed: 2
Used very sporadically during 80's decade for balloon launches
Total number of launches performed: 4
Other brazilian balloon launch sites to be included in StratoCat in the near future
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte
Lins Airport, Sao Paulo
Nelson Garófalo State Airport, Sao Manuel
Baurú Airport, Sao Paulo
Campinas, Sao Paulo
Resende, Rio de Janeiro
Adhemar de Barros Airport, Rio Claro, Sao Paulo
Guaratinguetá Air Base, Sao Paulo
Fortaleza Airport, Ceará
About StratoCat
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+ 20 articles from different contributors
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StratoCat is a non-profit, educational and informative website created, developed and programmed by Luis E. Pacheco. It is based on an idea first conceived by the author in 2001 and is online since September 17th, 2005.
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