CRYOGENIC AIR COLLECTOR

The principle of the instrument for the collection of ozone samples in the stratosphere is based on fractionally condensing gases in a flow of air through two cold traps at different temperatures.

Stratospheric air is moved through a first trap at 80 K and later through a second at 63 K (the triple point of liquid nitrogen). In the first trap water vapor and CO2 are condensed while the second collects ozone only.

All major atmospheric gases pass through the system without condensation. The altitude of operation of such a system is between 19 and approx. 35 km. Four separate trap units were combined into one collector permitting during a balloon float and descent to collect four separate ozone and CO2 samples.

Balloon launched on: 9/17/1991 at 13:54 utc
Launch site: Scientific Flight Balloon Facility, Fort Sumner, (NM), US  
Balloon launched by: National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon N40I-8/8T-11.62
Balloon serial number: R11.62-1-111
Flight identification number: 315N
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/17/1991 at 21:06 utc
Landing site: 5 miles N of Lidia, New Mexico, US
Payload weight: 400 pounds

The flight failed at launch due to troubles with the tow balloon.

The payload was retrieved from a bearby ranch with some damage.

• Jeff Stehr's Home page  
• NASA Balloon Flights (1989-1998) in NASA Historical Data Book, Vol. VII: NASA Launch Systems, Space Transportation, Human Spaceflight, and Space Science, 1989-1998
• Stratospheric ozone isotope enrichments-Revisited Geophysical Research Letters - Volume 28, Issue 16, pag. 3155