TETROON TECHNOLOGICAL FLIGHT + COSMIC RAY EXPERIMENT

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

Balloon launched on 9/7/1956, from Anoka County Airport, Minnesota, US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The balloon called a Tetroon (contraption of TETRahedrical ballOON) was built by the G.T. Schjeldahl Corp. using mylar which was at the time a new plastic compound. It was pyramidal in shape, 180 feet long and had a volume of one million cubic feet. The flight was performed under an agreement between the University of Minnesota in cooperation with the Office of Naval Research

The tetroon carried a 48-pound payload that included devices for measuring infrared radiation, air pressure and temperature, two cameras aimed to take pictures at one-minute intervals one looking down and the other looking at the balloon. The payload was completed with two radio transmitters for tracking the balloon and relaying instrument data, clock timers and ballast.

During the flight, the balloon reached a peak altitude of 142,900 ft, establishing a new unofficial altitude record, almost 20,000 feet above the previous mark of 125,000 feet set the previous year by Winzen Research, Inc. After the flight, both balloon and payload were recovered near Georgetown, Kentucky.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 9/7/1956
Launch site: Anoka County Airport, Minnesota, US  
Balloon launched by: Cosmic Ray Group - University of Minnesota
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon Tetroon - Mylar (0.25 mils) - 1.000.000 cuft
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/10/1956
Landing site: Near Georgetown, Kentucky, US
 Payload weight: 48 pds

External references

Images of the mission

Launch of the balloon from Anoka Airfield in Minnesota View from onboard camera of the tetroon fully inflated View of Minnesota from the onboard camera. Labels signal some key features of the terrain. Also are visible ropes hanging from the balloon    

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