MOGUL PROJECT

Developed by Watson Laboratories, Army Air Force AMC / Research Division, University of New York

Balloon launched on 8/5/1947, from Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

Project Mogul was a top secret project carried out by the US Army Air Forces involving the launch of stratospheric balloons carrying sensitive microphones, whose primary purpose was long-distance detection of sound waves generated by Soviet atomic bomb tests. The project was carried out from 1947 until early 1949. The project was moderately successful, but was very expensive and ultimatelly was replaced by a network of seismic detectors and air sampling for fallout.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 8/5/1947 at 7:14 est
Launch site: Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, US  
Balloon launched by: University of New York
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Weather Balloon General Mills 20' diam (Polyethilene 0.01 inches)
 Flight identification number: NYU 12
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 8/5/1947
Landing site: Smyrna, Delaware, US

External references

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