SDS (Solar Disk Sextant)

Developed by YALE University

Balloon launched on 10/13/2011, from Scientific Flight Balloon Facility, Fort Sumner, (NM), US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The Solar Disk Sextant (SDS) is a balloon-borne instrument whose objective is to measure the solar diameter, at different orientations, as a function of time. Results include the solar oblateness, the oscillation spectrum for use in helioseismology, and the rate of the secular variation of the solar diameter. The required instrumentation precision (a few milliarcsec) is attained by means of an objective beam splitting wedge which produces multiples solar images through consecutive reflections.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 10/13/2011
Launch site: Scientific Flight Balloon Facility, Fort Sumner, (NM), US  
Balloon launched by: Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon  
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 10/13/2011
Landing site: Ground abort. Strong surface winds forced the launch vehicle to perform a run longer than anticipated, reaching the security limit.

External references

Images of the mission

         

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