DEW POINT HYGROMETER

Developed by University of Chicago / Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)

Balloon launched on 1/7/1950, from Naval Air Station St. Louis, Missouri, US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The payload consisted of an electronic dew point hygrometer, a thermojunction for free-air temperature measurement, a hypsometer for pressure measurement, an ice-water bath for the reference thermojunction, and a stable DC amplifier to raise the voltages developed by the thermocouples to a level suitable for telemetering, a standard cell was used for internal standardization of the amplifier and telemetering system, a radio telemetering unit which established a unique correspondence between the DC output of the thermocouple voltage amplifier and the repetition frequency of pulses modulated upon a radio-frequency carrier wave, a sequencing switch which caused the various telemetered quantities to be transmitted in turn, and the batteries required for power supply. The batteries and all components except the sensing elements and the radio telemetering unit were contained in a pressurized and thermally insulated chamber.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 1/7/1950 at 10:29 cst
Launch site: Naval Air Station St. Louis, Missouri, US  
Balloon launched by: General Mills Inc.
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon General Mills 70 foot
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 1/7/1950
Payload weight: 46 pds

External references

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