Purpose of the flight and payload description

Objective of the flight was to measure the flux of primary cosmic ray electrons from 5 GeV to 100 GeV using a geiger tube hodoscope developed at the University of Maryland. The instrument was flown from Texas in order to improve on the statistics from two previous flights, to check the accuracy of the measurements above 50 GeV by slightly modifying the triggering requirements, and to flight test new home-built geiger tubes.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 5/16/1973
Launch site: Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas, US  
Balloon launched by: National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon Winzen - 329.044 m3 (17.78 microns - Cap. 30.48 microns Stratofilm)
Flight identification number: 753P
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 5/16/1973
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): F 19 h
Payload weight: 916 kgs

Nineteen hours of ceiling data were obtained

Postal cover issued on launch day commemorating the flight

External references

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