MANTRA (Middle Atmosphere Nitrogen TRend Assesment)

Developed by University of Toronto

Balloon launched on 9/1/2004, from Scientific Instrumentation Ltd Balloon Launch Facility, Vanscoy, Saskatchewan, Canada

Purpose of the flight and payload description

MANTRA is a balloon mission to study stratospheric composition, building on the experience gained during the MANTRA 1998, 2000, and 2002 balloon campaigns.

The gondola of this flight comprised 13 scientific instruments. There were three solar pointing Michelson Interferometers from the University of Denver, the University of Waterloo and MSC. The solar elevation table pointed two instruments in elevation, the MSC Maestro and the SPS. Other payload instruments included an MSC OH Spectrometer, two University of Toronto Radiometers, 180° from the sun, two York University spectrometers and one 90° and one 180° from the sun, an MSC Ozonesonde and a University of Toronto SPS B. Mounted above the payload in the flight train was the SAOZ spectrometer.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 9/1/2004 at 8:30 CST
Launch site: Scientific Instrumentation Ltd Balloon Launch Facility, Vanscoy, Saskatchewan, Canada  
Balloon launched by: Scientific Instrument Limited
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon  
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/1/2004 at 21:15 CST
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 13 h
Landing site: At 51°33.85'N, 108° 7.5'W
Campaign: MANTRA  
Gondola weight: 650 kg

The balloon was launched at 8:30 AM local time (14:30 UT) on Wednesday, September 1, 2004 under calm surface wind conditions, using the dynamic methos with assitance of a launch vehicle.

The event log (in local times) was as follows:

8:30 - Launch; sonde and radiometer measurements on ascent
8:56 - Telemetry monitors from the upper CIP (termination pack) failed
9:12 - Lost command capability (uplink). Pointing system in solar mode
11:30 - Payload at float altitude (37.185 km)
16:16 - Pointing system stopped working. The gondola started spinning so decision was made that the flight would be aborted after sunset.
20:40 - Sent signal to cut down payload while the balloon was at 51°29.6'N, 108°26.3'W

The payload landed 21:15 local time at 51°33.85'N, 108° 7.5'W and the balloon landed at 51°28.75'N, 108°18.5'W.

The payload was recovered and the failure assessment showed that the lost of command was caused by the receiver antenna centre connector, which was pulled away 2 mm from their connector.

External references

Images of the mission

Before the sunrise the preparation of the gondola starts. In the image we see the launch vehicle picking up the gondola. In the top the red and white box contains the SAOZ spectrometer. Balloon inflation. The morning was foggy. The payload back in Vanscoy after the recovery Detailed view of the payload  

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