Purpose of the flight and payload description

The objective of the flight was to perform ozone and nitrogen dioxide observations in the stratosphere. For that purpose was developed a compact and lightweight optical ozone sonde that uses a small spectroscope that has the potential to observe nitrogen dioxide, BrO, OClO, etc. in addition to ozone, unlike the filter-type optical sonde (weather observation equipment) that has been used so far.

This payload was flown to an altitude of 45 km using an ultra-thin balloon capable of reaching that altitude.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 9/5/2016 at 3:52 jst
Launch site: Multipurpose Aviation Research Field, Taiki-Cho, Hokkaido, Japan  
Balloon launched by: Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) / Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon 10.000 m3 (3.4 microns)
Flight identification number: BS16-05
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/5/2016 at 6:37 jst (L)
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 2 h 45 m
Landing site: In the Pacific Ocean 50 km ESE of Taiki, Japan

The balloon was launched from the Taiki Aerospace Research Field at 3:52 Japan Standard Time (JST) on September 5, 2016. The balloon made of a thin-film (3.4 microns) with a volume of 10.000 m3 ascended at a speed of about 270 meters per second to reach 45 km of altitude 2 hours and 45 minutes after launched, while flying above the Pacific Ocean about 40 km east-southeast of the Taiki base. After the scientific observation was concluded the balloon and payload were separated by radio-command slowly descending to the sea about 50 km east-southeast of the Taiki base to be recovered by ship.

External references

Images of the mission

Launch of the balloon (Image: Jaxa)        

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