OZONE AND ATMOSPHERIC GRAVITY WAVES OBSERVATION

This experiment, was aimed at testing the high-altitude thin film balloon flight performance and at the same time observing the ozone and atmospheric gravitational waves. The balloon used for this flight with a volume of 60,000 m3 was made of a thin film specially built for reaching high altitude with a thickness of 3.4 micrometers.

Balloon launched on: 9/8/2010 at 5:38 jst
Launch site: Multipurpose Aviation Research Field, Taiki-Cho, Hokkaido, Japan  
Balloon launched by: Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) / Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon 60.000 m3
Flight identification number: BS10-06
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/8/2010 at 8:00 jst
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 3 h
Landing site: In the Pacific Ocean

The flight (nomenclated BS10-06) started at 5:38 Japan Standard Time and after a nominal ascent phase of near two hours the balloon reached float altitude of 46.8 km while over the Pacific Ocean 80 km from the shoreline. After the scientific portion of the flight was completed, the termination command was transmited separating the balloon and the payload, which under a parachute impacted the Ocean surface at 8:20 local time.

All planned objectives were met: the flight verification for a thin-film high-altitude balloon using the polyethylene thin film that is wider than conventional films, and the balloon's tearing mechanism for a thin-film balloon. At the same time, the balloon carried out precise observations on the ozone, wind velocity, temperature and air pressure using two kinds of ozone measurement devices, namely an optical type, and electrochemical type.

The mission served as a confirmation of the good performance of the balloon made of the newly developed thin film as well allowed to obtain the first ozone measurements from the new JAXA base. These same missions were routinelly carried out from the old base in Sanriku in the past.

• Details of the experiment (in Japanese) ISAS / JAXA website