Purpose of the flight and payload description

The payload denominated BTEM (Balloon-borne, Transverse ElectroMagnetic wave-sensing system) is a prototype high-altitude airborne electromagnetic sounding system that uses induction from natural sources (like lightning and auroral storms) to build profiles of electrical conductivity of planetary interiors. The long term goal of the project is to build in the future an instrument capable of studying lithospheric structures such as those on Venus, ground water on Mars, and subsurface ocean on Titan.

The objective of this mission was to determine if the expected vertical and lateral variations in electric fields can be measured and used to recover the electrical conductivities of the ionosphere and ground.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 9/26/2018 at 3:00 utc
Launch site: McCall Municipal Airport, Idaho, US  
Balloon launched by: World View Enterprises
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon  
Flight identification number: T20-06
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/26/2018

External references

Images of the mission

         

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