HODOSCOPE

Objective of the flight was to measure the flux of primary cosmic ray electrons from 5 GeV to 100 GeV using a geiger tube hodoscope developed at the University of Maryland. The instrument was flown from Texas in order to improve on the statistics from two previous flights, to check the accuracy of the measurements above 50 GeV by slightly modifying the triggering requirements, and to flight test new home-built geiger tubes.

Balloon launched on: 5/16/1973
Launch site: Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas, US  
Balloon launched by: National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon Winzen - 329.044 m3 (17.78 microns - Cap. 30.48 microns Stratofilm)
Flight identification number: 753P
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 5/16/1973
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): F 19 h
Payload weight: 916 kgs

Nineteen hours of ceiling data were obtained

• National Scientific Balloon Facility Annual Report FY 1973 National Center for Atmospheric Research, September 1973
• The spectrum of cosmic electron with energies between 6 and 100 GeV Contractor Report, University of Maryland, Oct. 1974
• The spectrum of cosmic electrons with energies between 6 and 100 GeV 15th International Conference on Cosmic Rays, Volume 1, p.357
• The spectrum of cosmic electrons with energies between 6 and 100 GeV Astrophysical Journal, vol. 197, Apr. 1, 1975, pt. 1, p. 219-233