CELIMENE II - HXR79

The scientific payload consisted of two high pressure Multiwire Spectroscopic Proportional Counters (MWSPC) with 900 cm2 sensitive geometric area each, that observed in the hard X-Ray domain (16-180 keV). The field of view of the detectors was limited by means of two graded passive collimator having 7.5' x 7.5' and 5' x 5' FWHM aperture respectively. The detectors along with the on board data handling hardware were mounted on an azimuth stabilízed platform.

Balloon launched on: 8/26/1979 at 2:48 utc
Launch site: Base di Lancio Luigi Broglio, Trapani, Sicily, Italy  
Balloon launched by: Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) / Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon 350.000 m3
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 8/27/1979
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 17 h
Landing site: In Cullar de Baza, Granada, Spain
Campaign: ODISSEA 79  
Payload weight: 465 kg
Overall weight: 715 kg

• Evidence of a cyclotron line at 70 keV from 4U0531+21 Advances in Space Research Volume 1, Issue 13, 1981, Pages 219-222
• Hard X-ray astronomy at IAS Società Astronomica Italiana, Memorie, vol. 52, Mar. 1981, p. 117
• La campagne de lancements de ballons transméditerranéens "Odisea 79" COSPAR Information Bulletin, Volume 1980, Issue 87, Pag. 51
• Line feature around 73 keV from the Crab Nebula Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, vol. 252, Jan. 1, 1982, p. 172-178
• Search of a cyclotron line at 70 keV from Crab Nebula 5th ESA Symposium on European Rocket and Balloon Programs and Related Res. p 431-434