SDS (Solar Disk Sextant)

Developed by YALE University

Balloon launched on 10/10/1996, from Scientific Flight Balloon Facility, Fort Sumner, (NM), US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The Solar Disk Sextant (SDS) is a balloon-borne instrument whose objective is to measure the solar diameter, at different orientations, as a function of time. Results include the solar oblateness, the oscillation spectrum for use in helioseismology, and the rate of the secular variation of the solar diameter. The required instrumentation precision (a few milliarcsec) is attained by means of an objective beam splitting wedge which produces multiples solar images through consecutive reflections.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 10/10/1996 at 13:29 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 Raven 11L - 335.000 m3
Balloon serial number: W11.82-1-10
Flight identification number: 423N
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 10/10/1996 at 23:22 utc
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 10 h 50 m
Landing site: 6 miles of Afton, Texas, US
 Payload weight: 1661 lbs

External references

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