BOV-3 (Balloon-based Operation Vehicle)

The objective of the mission was to flight test an improved version of the BOV (Balloon-based Operation Vehicle) used to obtain artificial microgravity for scientific purposes. Alike the previous flights, this BOV mission counted with the addition of an air-breathing engine called "S-Engine", essential to compensate rapidly increasing air-drag thus extending the microgravity phase up to 60 seconds of duration.

The balloon with a volume of 300.000 m3 was launched at 4:48 local time, and after a initial ascent phase it reached float altitude of 37.6 km while was flying over the Pacific Ocean 40 km away the shoreline. Once in the predetermined impact area, at 7:04 was transmited the command to separate BOV from the balloon gondola starting the fall. After completing the mission a ship started the search and by 9:00 local time BOV was retrieved from the sea surface and transported back to Taiki.

On regard the performance of the vehicle the S-engine successfully burned in supersonic region. However, due to a problem of the data gathering system, engine parameters were not received.

Balloon launched on: 9/1/2010 at 4:48 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 model B300 300.000 m3
Flight identification number: B10-01
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/1/2010 at 7:04 jst
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 3 h
Landing site: In the Pacific Ocean

• BOV project website at Sawai Lab.
• Details of the experiment (in Japanese) ISAS / JAXA website