MSAM-1 (Medium Scale Anisotropy Measurement)

Developed by NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)

Balloon launched on 6/1/1995, from Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas, US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

A balloon-borne instrument to make measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy on angular scales between 0.5 and 3 degrees. The experiment uses a one meter, off-axis Cassegrian telescope, coupled with a four spectral band radiometer. The pointing for the experiment is controlled by a platform which was originally built in the early 1980's by a group at GSFC to map the Galactic plane (FIRS instrument).

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 6/1/1995 at 23:53 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 SF3-459.37-080-NSXC-ST
Balloon serial number: W39.57-2-13
Flight identification number: 1541P
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 6/2/1995 at 13:34 utc
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): F 9 h 44 m
Landing site: 20 miles NW of Junction, Texas, US

Third flight of the experiment and last one of this version of the instrument.

External references

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