OZONE OBSERVATION + CRISTAL BAROMETER TEST + GRAVITY WAVES

Developed by Tohoku University / Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS)

Balloon launched on 9/13/2007, from Sanriku Balloon Center, Iwate, Japan

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The objective of the flight was to perform observations of stratospheric ozone and atmospheric gravity waves and to test the performance of a quartz barometer. The balloon used for the mission was made of thin-film with a thickness of 3.4 micrometers and a volume of 30,000 cubic meters.

In the image at left we can see an image of the two payloads on board: Optical ozonesonde at left and electrochemical ozonesonde (ECC) at right. These elements were used to precisely observe ozone, wind speed, temperature, and pressure. The ECC ozonesonde had very high accuracy at altitudes below 30 km, while the optical ozonesonde can measure ozone with high accuracy at altitudes above 30 km. The quartz barometer was a new development aimed to be used in balloons and rockets with a measurement pressure range from atmospheric pressure to medium vacuum. All three instruments worked well during the flight permitting to obain measurements up to the lower mesosphere. Valuable data was obtained to investigate ozone variations in these regions. These measurements also makes it possible to derive gravity wave parameters over a wide area from the ground to the lower mesosphere. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the quartz barometer was confirmed, and its accuracy was verified.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 9/13/2007 at 6:51 JST
Launch site: Sanriku Balloon Center, Iwate, Japan  
Balloon launched by: ISAS / JAXA
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon model BU30 (ultra thin) 30.000 m3 (Ultra Thin Film - 3.4 micrones)
Flight identification number: BU30-5
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/13/2007 at 10:21 JST
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 3 h 30 m
Landing site: In the Ocean, near 100 kms from the shore line in front at Izaki, Japan

The balloon was released from the Sanriku Scientific Balloon Observatory at 6:51 a.m. on Thursday, September 13, 2007. After launch, the balloon ascended at a speed of approximately 300 meters per minute. Two hours and 35 minutes after the release, the balloon reached float altitude of 49.8 km above the sea 70 km off the coast of Igasaki, and immediately was transmitted a command radio signal to separate the balloon from the payload. Both elements slowly descended to the ocean 100 km east of Heizaki at 10:21 JST.

THIS BALLOON MISSION WAS THE LAST ONE LAUNCHED FROM THE SANRIKU BALLOON CENTER. A CLOSING CEREMONY WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2007, BEFORE MOVING OPERATIONS TO TAIKI AEROSPACE RESEARCH CENTER IN HOKKAIDO

External references

Images of the mission

         

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