Purpose of the flight and payload description
Objective of the flight was to test the Cosmic Ray intensity looking for any variation during a period of a relatively high solar activity as part of a research program carried out at the Istituto di Fisica della Universita di Bologna.
The instrumentation used in this balloon flight consisted mainly of several GeigerMüller counters with a total sensitive area of 24 cm². These detectors were responsible for measuring the total counting rate of cosmic rays or other high-energy particles during the ascent and at the flight altitude. A baroswitch was also included in the payload to monitor the atmospheric pressure, which allowed the researchers to correlate variations in counting rate with the residual atmospheric depth encountered during the flight. The balloon system was equipped with a telemetering unit which transmitted both pressure and G.M. total count data to the ground every fifteen seconds.
Details of the balloon flight
Balloon launched on: 7/18/1961 at
Launch site: Bologna, Italy
Balloon launched by: Istituto di Fisica della Universita - BoIogna
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Weather Balloon
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 7/18/1961
The balloon launched from Bolonia, Italy on July 18 1961, allowed the detection of a short burst in counting rate observed between 07:12 and 07:14 UT. The entire measurement period spanned from 06:25 to 08:00 UT when the balloon reached an altitude corresponding to about 120 g/cm² of residual atmosphere. The system functioned normally throughout the flight, with no instrumental malfunctions detected that could explain the observed rapid count increase. The careful synchronization between the pressure readings and G.M. counts allowed the investigators to eliminate potential instrumental errors and confirm the authenticity of the event.
External references
- Apparatus of measuring, memorizing and telemetering for spatial research Nuovo Cim 17 (Suppl 2), 277286 (1960)
- On a G. M. counting rate increase recorded at balloon altitude Nuovo Cim 22, 12611266 (1961)
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