NEUTRON DETECTOR + PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA

Developed by Instituto de Astronomia y Fisica del Espacio (IAFE), Argentina / CNIE

Balloon launched on 8/7/1972, from Centre for Experimentation and Launch of Self-Propelled Rockets, Chamical, Argentine

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The detector system was formed by a telescope composed by two Geiger-Muller counters. One of the counters had a thin cover of Aluminium, whereas the second had a internal cover of Bismute. The counting rates of each counter and its double coincidence were transmitted by telemetry.

The solar event of August 7, 1972 was the first case in which secondary X rays resulting from solar X-ray emission have been observed at large atmospheric depths, the duration of the effects being some tens of minutes.

Aditionally the balloon carried on board a Maurer photographic camera loaded with infrared film. During the flight were obtained the first pictures in colour taken from above 20 km of altitude in Argentina.

It was also the first balloon launched entirely by Argentine staff.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 8/7/1972 at 11:38 local
Launch site: Centre for Experimentation and Launch of Self-Propelled Rockets, Chamical, Argentine  
Balloon launched by: Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon 500.000 ft3
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 8/7/1972 at ~ 15:30 local
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): ~ 4 h
Landing site: 12 km E of the town of Totoralejos, in the zone of Salinas Grandes, Cordoba province
 Overall weight: 87 kgs

Predetermined cut down by mechanical timer

External references

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