Purpose of the flight and payload description

An instrument for atmospheric ozone In Situ measurements.

The photometer's primary components are a mercury lamp, two identical sample chambers, two detectors, and a scrubber. The lamp provides 254 nm radiation that is transmitted through the length of the chambers to the detectors, one chamber containing the air sample with ozone and other containing air with the ozone removed.

Ozone strongly absorbs this wavelength, allowing virtually continuous measurements of ozone by comparing the detected signals in the two chambers, and periodically alternating the roles of the two chambers.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 5/31/1993 at 12:15 utc
Launch site: Scientific Flight Balloon Facility, Fort Sumner, (NM), US  
Balloon launched by: National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon SF3-424.37-080-NSCHR-04-ST
Balloon serial number: W29.47-3-18
Flight identification number: 361N
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 6/1/1993 at 12:41 utc
Landing site: 20 miles W of Belen, New Mexico, US
Campaign: UARS  

External references

Images of the mission

NSBF technician Scott Hadley, works the forklift to enable NASA engineer Dr. Ira Noft to remove the black protective cover from the IBEX instrument as Italian scientist Massimo Carlotti communicates the status of the instrument to the control tower IBEX balloon is filled with helium gas in preparation for launch (fill tubes on left and right). This volume of gas expands at high altitude to fully fill the balloon's volume of 30 million cubic feet IBEX ready to be launched    

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