LIMS GONDOLA TEST

Developed by Meteorological Institute, University of Munich

Balloon launched on 7/25/1978, from DLR Oberpfaffenhofen, Munich, Germany

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The primary objective of this flight was to test the behaviour of a new gondola developed to measure trace gas profiles in the stratosphere. The long term goal of the project was to compare the results obtained by the balloon with simultaneously performed measurements of the LIMS (Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere) instrument aboard the NIMBUS 7 satellite.

The balloon gondola (image at left) was designed and built to provide a sun pointing capability by means of two axis of stabilization to better than 3 arc mins. It used a twin axis sun sensor controlling an experiment mounting plate in elevation and the complete gondola in azimuth.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 7/25/1978 at 1:53 utc
Launch site: DLR Oberpfaffenhofen, Munich, Germany  
Balloon launched by: MORABA (Mobile Raketen Basis)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon  
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 7/25/1978
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 3 h 30 m

This was the second engineering test flight of the pointing LIMS gondola and was aimed to test its behaviour with no scientific instruments onboard. This flight was more successful than the previous one. Sun lock was achieved 9 minutes after sun rise and several deliberate re-acquisitions were carried out. The gondola was cut down 1 hr 10 min after the initial sun lock.

External references

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