In the table below you will find the records of stratospheric balloons launched from different countries and places during 1952, which are currently available in StratoCat's database. Each row shows basic data about the launch base from which departed, date and time of the launch, and if available the duration of the mission and the site of termination or landing place of the payload.
Regarding the kind of payload or experiment transported in each balloon mission, if you click the experiment name a text will be displayed showing the name of the scientific institutions involved in that mission, a brief resume of the purpose of the experiment carried onboard as well the scientific results obtained, and other information of relevance from that particular mission. Finaly at the bottom of the window there are links to external references. In some cases, these references are available throught scientific websites or journals for free. In other cases however, the information was published on journals only accesible throught direct suscription or using the access provided by Universities or research centers.
| Launch base | Date | Flight Duration | Experiment | Payload landing place or cause of the failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Holloman AFB (NM) | 1/23 | 4 h | PROJECT GOPHER GEAR | --- No Data --- |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 1/29 | 44 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 3 TEST) | In coordinates 28.1° N 74.4° W |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 2/2 | 36 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 3 TEST) | In coordinates 34.4° N 73.5° W |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 2/6 | 9 h 30 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 3 TEST) | --- No Data --- |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 2/9 | 47 h 25 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 3 TEST) | In coordinates 28.2° N 73.4° W |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 2/14 | 92 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 3 TEST) | NE of Montreal, Canada |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 2/19 | 48 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 3 TEST) | Hope, kansas, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 2/20 | 43 h | ANIMAL CAPSULE (UM) | Aguilar, Colorado, US |
 Milan-Linate | 2/21 | 2 h | NUCLEAR EMULSIONS | --- No Data --- |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 2/22 | 40 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 3 TEST) | Gulf of California, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 2/27 | 1 h 30 m | ANIMAL CAPSULE (UM) | Hope, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 2/27 | 62 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 3 TEST) | 13 Miles N od Stark, Louisiana, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 3/3 | 1 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 3 TEST) | Hope, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 3/18 | 10 h | COSMIC RAY PLATES | 6 Miles NE of Dora, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 4/8 | 4 h | COSMIC RAY PLATES | 15 Miles SE of Caprock, New Mexico, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 4/14 | --- | PROJECT GOPHER - K17 CAMERA | Gondola damaged at launch. No data obtained |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 4/15 | 11 h | COSMIC RAY PLATES + FRUIT FLIES | 15 Miles SW of Salinas Peak, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 4/24 | 28 h | ANIMAL CAPSULE (UM) | 3 miles W of Arrey, New Mexico, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 4/30 | --- | PROJECT GOPHER - K17 CAMERA | Camera failure. No data obtained |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 5/1 | 5 h 10 m | SAMPLER + SOLAR RADIATION GEAR | 20 miles SW of Salt Flats, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 5/15 | 23 h 30 m | MOBY DICK DUMMY LOAD + FRUIT FLIES | 38 miles NE of Carrizozo, New Mexico, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 5/21 | --- | J250 CODE SONDE TELEMETRY BEACON | Telemetry failure after launch. Not recovered |
| Capodichino | 5/26 | ~ 3 h | TEST FLIGHT | Impact site located at sea. Not recovered |
| Capodichino | 5/27 | --- | TEST FLIGHT | In Lagonegro, Italy |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 5/28 | 3 h 30 m | SPECTROGRAPH | 5 miles NE of Pinon, New Mexico, US |
| Elmas | 5/31 | + 25 h | EMULSION PLATES | --- No Data --- |
| Elmas | 6/3 | --- | EMULSION PLATES | Senerbi, Sardignia, Italy |
| New Brighton (MN) | 6/4 | 5 h | PROJECT GOPHER - K17 CAMERA | --- No Data --- |
| Elmas | 6/5 | --- | EMULSION PLATES | Mediterranean Sea |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 6/5 | 1 h | DUMMY LOAD - MOBY DICK PROJECT | 15 miles SW of Pinon, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 6/10 | 4 h | DUMMY LOAD - BARREL | Elephant Butte Dam, New Mexico, US |
| Elmas | 6/11 | --- | EMULSION PLATES | Sardignia, Italy |
| New Brighton (MN) | 6/12 | --- | PROJECT GOPHER - K17 CAMERA | --- No Data --- |
| Elmas | 6/16 | --- | EMULSION PLATES | In Uri, Sardignia, Italy |
| Elmas | 6/23 | --- | EMULSION PLATES | Mediterranean Sea |
| New Brighton (MN) | 6/25 | 2 h 17 m | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | Balloon broke on jet Stream at 47.6 kft. Payload recovered badly 3 miles E of Cumberland, Winsconsin, US |
| Elmas | 6/26 | 3 h | TEST FLIGHT | Mediterranean Sea |
| Elmas | 6/28 | --- | EMULSION PLATES | South of Menorca, Mediterranean Sea. Never recovered |
| New Brighton (MN) | 6/30 | 10 min | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | Balloon leaker. Descended 2 km N of the Airport, New Brighton, Minnesota, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 7/3 | --- | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | Balloon destroyed by surface wind. Not launched |
| Elmas | 7/3 | 30 m | EMULSION PLATES | Few miles from Elmas airport, Sardignia, Italy |
| Elmas | 7/5 | 2 h | EMULSION PLATES | Mediterranean Sea |
| New Brighton (MN) | 7/8 | 21 h 30 m | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | Kennebec, South Dakota, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 7/10 | 4 d | PROJECT GOPHER - K17 CAMERA | Lost in the Atlantic Ocean. Balloon found by a tanker ship |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 7/10 | 10 h 30 m | COSMIC RAY PLATES | Gila Bend, Arizona, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 7/11 | 15 h | DUMMY LOAD - MOBY DICK PROJECT | 28 miles SW of Corona, New Mexico, US |
| Elmas | 7/12 | --- | EMULSION PLATES | Free fall over the Mediterranean Sea |
| New Brighton (MN) | 7/15 | --- | PROJECT GOPHER - K17 CAMERA | --- No Data --- |
| New Brighton (MN) | 7/15 | --- | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | 2 miles E of Hugo, Minnesota, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 7/15 | --- | ANIMAL CAPSULE (NYU) + DOSIMETER | No flight - Insuficient free lift |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 7/16 | 10 h 30 m | ANIMAL CAPSULE (NYU) + DOSIMETER | 10 miles S of Casa Grande, Arizona, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 7/18 | 11 h 30 m | COSMIC RAY PLATES | 30 miles NE Yuma, Arizona, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 7/21 | --- | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | Balloon burst at 34.000 ft. Payload recovered 9 miles SE of Clear Lake, Minnesota, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 7/23 | 34 h | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | In Wessington Springs, South Dakota, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 7/26 | --- | PROJECT GOPHER - K17 CAMERA | --- No Data --- |
| New Brighton (MN) | 7/29 | --- | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | Payload never recovered. Balloon found in Merignac, France |
| New Brighton (MN) | 8/5 | 6 h 10 m | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | Payload landed in Stratford, Wisconsin and the balloon was found that night near Walford Station, Ontario, Canada |
| New Brighton (MN) | 8/6 | 3 h 6 m | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT + COSMIC RAY EXPERIMENT | The equipment was recovered near Pepin, Wisconsin, and the balloon near Wheeling, Illinois, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 8/12 | 14 h | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | Near Maiden Rock, Winsconsin, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/13 | 2 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 9 miles W of Tularosa Peak, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/15 | 25 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | West Area, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/18 | 22 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | Water Tower of North Area, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 8/19 | 19 h 20 m | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | The equipment was recovered 6 miles NE of La Valle, and the balloon 4 miles NE of Reedsburg, Winsconsin, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/19 | --- | PAYLOAD UNKNOWN | --- No Data --- |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/20 | 1 h 45 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 10 miles N of Tula Peak, New Mexico, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 8/21 | 12 h | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | The equipment was recovered 2 miles ESE of Chanhassen, Minnesota, US |
 USCGC Eastwind | 8/21 | --- | NO PAYLOAD | --- No Data --- |
| USCGC Eastwind | 8/21 | --- | DEACON ROCKOON (Rocket-Balloon) - SUI-01 | Payload no recoverable |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/21 | 2 h 30 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | San Andres Mountains, New Mexico, US |
| USCGC Eastwind | 8/23 | --- | DEACON ROCKOON (Rocket-Balloon) - SUI-02 | Payload no recoverable |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/23 | 1 h 45 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 1 mile W of Strip 2, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/25 | 2 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 10 miles W of Tula Range Camp, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/25 | 2 h 30 m | SAMPLING BOTTLE + INFRARED GEAR | 10 miles WSW of Salinas Peak, New Mexico, EEUU |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/26 | 1 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 2 miles S of Tula Peak, New Mexico, US |
| USCGC Eastwind | 8/27 | 4.7 h | NEUTRON COUNTER | Payload lost at sea. |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/27 | 22 h 30 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | Pringle, Texas, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/27 | 2 h 30 m | SAMPLING BOTTLE + INFRARED GEAR | 28 miles NNW of Holloman AFB, New Mexico, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 8/28 | 20 h 30 m | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | Payload recovered in Princeton, Minnesota, US |
| USCGC Eastwind | 8/28 | --- | DEACON ROCKOON (Rocket-Balloon) - SUI-03 | Payload no recoverable |
| USCGC Eastwind | 8/28 | --- | NEUTRON COUNTER | --- No Data --- |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/28 | --- | GOPHER PROJECT | Launch platform failed before balloon release |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/28 | 33 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | N of Aeromedical Laboratory building, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, US |
| Pyote AFB (TX) | 8/29 | 10 h 30 m | EMULSION PLATES | 50 miles SW of Douglas, Arizona, US |
| USCGC Eastwind | 8/29 | --- | DEACON ROCKOON (Rocket-Balloon) - SUI-05 | Payload no recoverable |
| USCGC Eastwind | 8/29 | --- | DEACON ROCKOON (Rocket-Balloon) - SUI-04 | Payload no recoverable |
| USCGC Eastwind | 8/29 | 4.2 h | NEUTRON COUNTER | Impact at sea. Payload not recovered. |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/29 | 60 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | Recovered 5 months later in Clark, Missouri, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/29 | 5 h 30 m | GOPHER PROJECT | 18 miles N of San Lorenzo, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 8/29 | 33 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | Near Dyvad's airport, New Mexico, US |
| USCGC Eastwind | 8/31 | 8 h | PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICE | Impact at sea. Payload not recovered. |
| USCGC Eastwind | 8/31 | --- | DEACON ROCKOON (Rocket-Balloon) - SUI-06 | Payload no recoverable |
| USCGC Eastwind | 9/1 | 1h | PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICE | Impact at sea. Payload not recovered. |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/2 | 80 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | Recovered 7 weeks later in South Ogema, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/2 | 1 h 15 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 10 Miles SE of Valmont, New Mexico, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 9/3 | 1 h 25 m | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | Balloon burst at 76.000 ft. Payload recovered near Pepin, Wisconsin, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/3 | 80 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | Recovered 5 weeks later 30 miles N of Kemmerer, Wyoming; US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/3 | 2 h 30 m | INFRARED GEAR | 3 miles SE of Condron Field, New Mexico, US |
| USCGC Eastwind | 9/4 | 5 h 30 m | NEUTRON COUNTER + PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICE | Spotted on the ground but not recovered |
| USCGC Eastwind | 9/4 | 1h | PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVICE | Impact at sea. Payload not recovered. |
| USCGC Eastwind | 9/4 | --- | DEACON ROCKOON (Rocket-Balloon) - SUI-07 | Payload no recoverable |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/4 | 4 h | GOPHER PROJECT | WSW of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/4 | 78 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 25 miles NW of Ogden, Utah, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/5 | 3 h 15 m | SOLAR CONSTANT MEASUREMENTS | 15 miles W of Las Cruces, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/5 | 2 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | White Sands Monument, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/5 | 32 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 37 miles N of Colorado Springs, Colorado, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/6 | 62 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | In Arcadia, Nebraska, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/7 | 53 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | In Aguilar, Colorado, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/8 | 71 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 35.5º N 120.5º W |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/9 | 1 h 30 m | INFRARED GEAR | Balloon burst at 52.4 kft. Payload recovered 3 miles S of White Sands, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/9 | 36 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 20 miles S of Ray, Arizona, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/10 | 6 h 30 m | GOPHER PROJECT + RED BAG | 15 miles NW of Carrizozo, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/10 | 71 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | Crown Point, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/11 | 30 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 6 miles NE of Holloman AFB, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/11 | 6 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 30 miles NE of Prescott, Arizona, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/11 | 4 h | SOLAR CONSTANT MEASUREMENTS | Near Salinas Peak, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/12 | 44 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | In Keyes, Oklahoma, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/13 | 24 h 30 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | In Covington, Tennessee, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 9/15 | 1 h 28 m | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT + EMULSION PACK | Balloon burst at 92.886 ft. Payload recovered 5 miles E of Plum City, Winsconsin, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/15 | 2 h 55 m | GOPHER PROJECT + RED BAG | Near Strip 1, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/15 | 40 h | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | 40 miloes W of Carbos, New Mexico, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 9/16 | 9 h 15 m | PAYLOAD UNKNOWN | 8 miles ESW from Lacrosse, Winsconsin, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/16 | 2 h 30 m | MOBY DICK (MODEL # 4 TEST) | In Covington, Tennessee, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 9/17 | 8 h 45 m | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT + COSMIC RAY PLATES | In Harrisville, Winsconsin, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 9/22 | 1 h 32 m | TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT | Balloon burst at 80.892 ft. Payload recovered in Pine Island, Minnesota, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/23 | 2 h 30 m | OZONESONDE + CDE | --- No Data --- |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 9/24 | --- | GOPHER PROJECT + BALLAST | Vertical inflation. Load smashed on take off. No flight |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 10/2 | 40 h | GOPHER PROJECT + BALLAST | No Data. Contact lost after 40 hours of flight |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 10/14 | 50 h | GOPHER PROJECT + BALLAST | Last contact over New England, US |
| New Brighton (MN) | 10/20 | 6 h 17 m | PROPORTIONAL COUNTER + CAMERA + EMULSION PLATES | 7 Miles N of Hulbert, Michigan, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 10/22 | 3 h 30 m | AIR SAMPLER | 35 miles ESE of Pinon, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 10/30 | 3 h | AIR SAMPLER | 10 miles SE of Carlsbad, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 11/14 | 84 h | GOPHER PROJECT + BALLAST | Bridgeton, New Jersey, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 11/20 | 3 h | SKY BRIGHTNESS MEASUREMENTS | 20 miles E of Pinon, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 11/21 | --- | AIR SAMPLER + SEPARATION GEAR | 40 miles NE of Lovington, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 11/21 | 36 h | GOPHER PROJECT | 5 miles W os Sallisaw, Oklahoma, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 12/11 | 4 h 30 m | SOLAR CONSTANT MEASUREMENTS | 15 miles E of Oro Grande, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 12/15 | 3 h 20 m | SOLAR CONSTANT MEASUREMENTS | In the Fort Bliss Artillery Range, Texas, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 12/16 | 5 h 15 m | SPECTROGRAPH | 25 miles S of Pinon, New Mexico, US |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 12/20 | --- | DUMMY LOAD (SAND BAGS) | --- No Data --- |
| Holloman AFB (NM) | 12/30 | --- | CONTROL BOX | Sierra Blanca, Texas, US |
If you consider that this website is interesting or useful, you can help to keep it running with just the equivalent of the price of a cup of coffee. Click on the button on the right for more information.
