Purpose of the flight and payload description

This flight was part of the Joint Indo-U.S. Balloon Flight Program - 1961 a cooperative scientific launch campaign carried out between February and April 1961 by scientists from India and the United States in Hyderabad, India. The objective of the extended series of high-altitude balloon flights was to probe the tropical stratosphere using a wide variety of scientific instruments.

This particular flight was part of a series to mesure the vertical distribution of submicron particles in the stratosphere over India by means of a balloon-borne inertial impactor device known as the AFCRL Small Impactor developed by General Mills for the Air Force Cambridge Research Lab. This instrument had previously been flown successfully over the United States many times, principally for the determination of the vertical numerical profiles of natural aerosols having an average radius of 0.15 microns.

The Small Impactor was so-named because of the relatively small amount of air required for each sample, about 10 cu ft. The air-sampling apparatus consisted essentially of a motor-driven rotary air pump which drawed air through a series of jet impactors, thereby removing the solid particles from the air stream. Individual, large-diameter inlet tubes were mounted vertically at the top of the instrument and protected from contamination by sliding doors which were opened only during the sampling period at altitude. A solenoid valve mechanism, controlled either by radio from the ground or automatically by a barometric switch, permited the collection of as many as twelve samples during each balloon flight, usually in altitude increments of 10,000 ft, in addition to several larger samples at floating altitude. The volumetric flow rate was measured with a linear-resistance-type flow meter or controlled by means of critical orifices, calibrated for each impactor, which in turn was designed for use at a particular altitude. The flow rate, sampling time, air-stream temperature, pressure drop across the impactor, and other pertinent data were recorded by a camera which photographed the meter panel at one-minute intervals. All of the instruments were mounted in a compact chassis, thermally insulated with polystyrene foam. To ensure intact recovery after the descent by parachute the sampler was suspended in a shock mounting frame in which pneumatic cylinders were used to absorb the shock on impact with the ground. A separate battery pack of silver peroxide-zinc cells supplieed electrical power to the various components of the air sampler.

The population of particles was determined after the flight by visually counting the particles under a microscope, and the numerical concentration was then known from the accurately measured volume of air sampled.

A series of four identical flights were performed during the India campaign with the following profile: ascent to 100,000 ft altitude, at or near 500 fpm rate of rise; air sampling programmed in 10,000-ft increments starting at 40,000 ft and continuing for 2 hr after reaching floating altitude; descent by parachute.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 3/24/1961 at 1:53 utc
Launch site: Begumpet Airport, Secunderabad, India  
Balloon launched by: General Mills Inc.
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon General Mills 142-1-1 (2.0 mil)
Balloon serial number: 457-4
Flight identification number: GMI Nº 2527
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 3/24/1961 at 6:53 utc (L)
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 5 h
Landing site: 110 Miles NE of Hyderabad, India

Balloon was launched on March 24, 1961 at 7:23 local time from Begumpet Airport, near Secunderabad using dynamic method. Average rate of rise was 663 fpm to 102,000 ft. Flight was terminated after 2 hr at maximum altitude. Impact occurred approximately 110 miles northeast. Tracking aircraft crew was unable to maintain contact because of radio-compass malfunction. Thunderstorms in impact area forced aircraft to return to base. Impact in jungle area was not observed so the payload was presumed lost. The equipment was finally recovered by natives 4 weeks later, nearly destroyed by fire of unknown origin. Possibly it was struck by lightning or the fire was caused by very hard impact on descent.

External references

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