BIRT (Balloon-borne InfraRed Telescope)

Developed by Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) / University of Arizona

Balloon launched on 5/25/1988, from Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas, US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The instrument is composed by a 50 cm reflector telescope mounted on an alt-azimuthal pointing system actuated by a control moment gyro torquer in the azimuth. The pointing and tracking are accomplished by a unique offset guide system which utilizes a star tracker and a star field camera mounted on a two-axis offset gimbals. The motion of the gimbals is controlled by an on board CPU which computes and corrects the rotation rate of the offset direction caused by the celestial diurnal motion as well as the horizontal motion of the balloon gondola.

On the focal plane was mounted for this particular flight a Fabry-Perot Spectrometer.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 5/25/1988 at 1:40 utc
Launch site: Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas, US  
Balloon launched by: National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon N17I-8/8T-2.70
Balloon serial number: R2.70-1-101
Flight identification number: 1464P
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 5/25/1988 at 11:03 utc
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 7 h
Landing site: 18 miles W of Huntsville Texas, US

External references

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