INTERFEROMETER SPECTROMETERS

Developed by Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories (AFCRL) / Block Associates Inc. / Minneapolis Honeywell / University of the Northwestern

Balloon launched on 8/2/1962, from Holloman Air Force Base, Alamogordo, New Mexico, US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The purpose of this flight was to gather data regarding the upward and downward radiative energy flux in the atmosphere. For this purpose two interferometer spectrometers were used, one looking alternately at the nadir and at
an angle of 20º to the Zenith, covered the 1.5 µ to 15 µ spectral region while a second instrument, looking only at the nadir, covered the 4 µ to 40 µ spectral region. Also on board were four experimental frost point hygrometers supplied and serviced by Minneapolis-Honeywell. The telemetry system used for data transmission during the flight was supplied by Northeastern University, who also fabricated the gondola.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 8/2/1962 at 1:27 mst
Launch site: Holloman Air Force Base, Alamogordo, New Mexico, US  
Balloon launched by: Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories (AFCRL)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon  
 Flight identification number: HAFB 1261
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 8/2/1962 at 3:05 mst
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 2 h
Landing site: Balloon burst at 54.000 ft. Payload landed 5 miles E of Whitetail, New Mexico, US

The balloon was launched at 1:27 MST from Holloman AFB, Alamogordo, New Mexico. The day of launch differs in the two papers mentioned as external reference, as one mention August 1st and the other August 2, 1962. The flight proceeded normally until the balloon reached an altitude of 54,000 feet at which point it burst probably due to the very cold temperatures of the tropopause that made the plastic of the balloon brittle. At that point the mission was terminated and the payload was parachuted back to earth, landing at 3:23 MST in a point 5 miles East of Whitetail, New Mexico.

Both spectrometers operated as expected and although the flight was terminated before the balloon had reached float altitude all the data obtained up to that point were valid due to the high spectral sampling rate. Engineering information regarding the performance of the instrumentation was also gathered.

External references

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