PATHFINDER - 2

Developed by Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) / ISTAR (International Science Technology And Research)

Balloon launched on 6/16/2003, from Longyearbyen Airport, Svalbard, Norway

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The balloon carried a payload of approximately 3 kg composed of a ARGOS transponder with a GPS board and a Lithium battery pack.

The flight plan called for the balloon reach float altitude and circumnavigate the polar region between 78 and 80 deg. N. Throught the GPS/ARGOS payload the trajectory would be traced showing the stratospheric circulation pattern of stratospheric winds, and providing information about diurnal excursions, and potential termination/impact locations for the future LDB flights.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 6/16/2003 at 19:37
Launch site: Longyearbyen Airport, Svalbard, Norway  
Balloon launched by: ISTAR (International Science Technology And Research)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon 3000 m3
Flight identification number: PATH-2
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 6/17/2003
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 1 d
Landing site: In the Greenland Sea.
Campaign: Arctic LDB Program Development 2003 designed to prove concept for launching larger Long Duration Balloons (LDB) in the future from Svalbard Islands
Payload weight: 3 kg

The second pathfinder balloon, called PATH-2, was launched on Monday 16 June at 19:37 UT.

It was launched in good conditions and had a normal ascent up to float at 38 km and had the same free lift than the first, but it would still not stay at float level as well.

The balloon slowly descended again and landed in the Greenland Sea.

(extracted from the report of Kjell Bøen, Head of Operational Services)

This flight returned no usefull information due to early termination.

External references

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