H2O

Developed by Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers (INSU) / Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace (LPC2E) / Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (LMD)

Balloon launched on 9/14/2014, from Timmins Stratospheric Balloon Base, Ontario, Canada

Purpose of the flight and payload description

H2O was the denomination of a multi-payload mission which carried several instruments onboard, but all with a common scientific scope: to measure the amounts of water vapor in the stratosphere. Hence, the mission was dubbed H2O. The platform used to mount the instruments was developed by CNES for another experiment (the LPMA/DOAS spectrometer) following their well proven modular structure based on aluminum balls and bars.

Onboard instruments were: ELHYSA (Etude de L'Hygromérie Stratosphérique) a frost point hygrometer built by the LMD (Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique) which has been operating since 1987 on balloons and is now under the management of the Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement etde l'Espace (LPC2E); picoSDLA-H2O (Spectromètre à Diode Laser Accordable) a tuneable diode laser spectrometer designed for in situ measurements of water vapour and methane operated by the University of Reims; an improved version of the ELHYSA hygrometer that is still under qualification phase; the SawfPhy (Surface acoustic wave frost point hygrometer) developed by the LMD; the LOAC (Light Optical Particles Counter) developed by the LPC2E and finally the TSEN air temperature sensor which is also operated by the LMD.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 9/14/2014 at 22:55 utc
Launch site: Timmins Stratospheric Balloon Base, Ontario, Canada  
Balloon launched by: Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon model 100z Zodiac - 100.000 m3
Balloon serial number: 100Z Nº 149
Flight identification number: NIMBUS-6
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/15/2014 at 4:16 utc (L)
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 5 h 21 m
Landing site: 70 km N of Amos, Quebec, Canada
Campaign: STRATO SCIENCE 2014  
Payload weight: 222 kg
 Overall weight: 750 kg

External references

Images of the mission

         

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