COSMIC RAY STUDIES

Developed by Office of Naval Research (ONR)

Balloon launched on 1/6/1948, from Camp Ripley, Little Falls, Minnesota, US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The payload was composed by a cloud chamber designed to test high-energy particles that come from outside the atmosphere.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 1/6/1948 at 08:00 CST
Launch site: Camp Ripley, Little Falls, Minnesota, US  
Balloon launched by: General Mills Inc.
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon General Mills - 72.8 - 226.000 cu. Ft.
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 1/6/1948
Landing site: Preset cut-down automatic device failed.The balloon was lost on the sea.
 Payload weight: 80 pounds

Preset cut-down automatic device failed.The balloon was lost on the sea. In their route over Kentucky Captain Thomas Mantell died chasing it near Goodman Field.

Preset balloon cut-down automatic device failed. The balloon was lost on the sea. In it's route over Kentucky Captain Thomas Mantell died due to hypoxia trying to chase the craft near Goodman Field.

Primary source of the launch date and purpose of the flight came from an interview made to Charles B. Moore -balloon pioneer that worked at General Mills at the time of the incident- in a Newspaper article published in the "Courier-Journal", Louisville, Kentucky, October 9, 1998. No copy available now online.

External references

Images of the mission

Picture of the balloon launch provided by Dr. Charles Moore to UFO investigator Barry Greenwood Picture of the balloon launch provided by Dr. Charles Moore to UFO investigator Barry Greenwood      

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