BUSS (Balloon-Borne Ultraviolet Stellar Spectrometer)

Developed by NASA - Johnson Space Center (JSC) / Houston Baptist University

Balloon launched on 5/19/1976, from Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas, US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The BUSS experiment was designed to perform spectrophotometric measurements of the stars in the UV domain. The telescope was mounted on a biaxial pointer, and was controlled in elevation and azimuth by a boresighted startracker. Both the telescope-spectrometer and the pointer were designed and built . The telescope has a focal length of 300 cm and a diameter of 40 cm. It consisted of an f/3 primary mirror and a secondary mirror with magnification m = 2.5. By means of image motion compensation an ultimate tracking precision of a few seconds of arc is achieved. The secondary mirror is mounted in a biaxial flex-pivot gimbal system, and can be tilted by means of two small torque motors.

Near the focal plane a dichroic mirror reflects the ultraviolet radiation towards the spectrometer, and transmits the visible light towards a star position sensor, which provides the control signals for the torque motors.

The original payload was designed and built by Ball Brothers Research Corporation of Boulder, Colorado, in 1971. The payload is about 3.5 m in diameter by 2.5 m high and weighs 540 kg, excluding ballast. Crush pads are attached to the four legs of the lower section or gondola, and the roll cage supplies additional protection to the telescope.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 5/19/1976
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 576.534 m3 (12.70 microns - Stratofilm)
Flight identification number: 968P
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 5/19/1976
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): F 9 h 10 m
Landing site: In Ranger, Texas, US
 Payload weight: 920 kgs.

Flight VII

External references

Images of the mission

Time-exposure sweep of the night sky over Texas taken by the star tracker of BUSS from the stratosphere. Light streaks in top of the picture are star tracks, the dark band is the Earth horizon and atmosphere, and the lower white streaks are clouds. BUSS on the ground after landing. The payload, chute and balloon landed safely at Ranger, Texas, midway between Abilene and Fort Worth. Untangling the lines of the BUSS parachute from a Cedar tree near Ranget, Texas. The remains of the balloon that transported the BUSS payload. The balloon hit power lines and part of it caught fire.  

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