INFOCµS (International Focusing Optics Collaboration for µCrab Sensitivity)

Developed by NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) / Nagoya University

Balloon launched on 8/18/2000, from Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas, US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

INFOCµS is a balloon-borne instrument incorporating recent breakthroughs in focusing optics and detectors to achieve order of magnitude improvements in both hard X-ray sensitivity and imaging resolution, with high resolution spectroscopy. This instrument is a pioneering effort to extend into the hard X-ray energy range the power of focusing optics that has revolutionized X-ray astronomy with missions like ROSAT and ASCA.

The telescope is conical approximation of Wolter-I optics with 8m focal length and 40cm diameter. It employed 255 nested ultra-thin reflector pairs, or supermirrors that reflected hard X-rays by Bragg reflection at incidence angles larger than the critical angle of total external reflection.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 8/18/2000 at 00:59 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 300.000 m3 - SF3-11.82-.8/.8-NH
Balloon serial number: W11.82-1-21
Flight identification number: 1573P
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 8/18/2000
Landing site: Balloon failure in the launch pad. No flight

Balloon and payload failed.

External references

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