XENON

Developed by Institut de physique du globe de Paris (IPGP) / Inserm Lyon / Institutet för rymdfysik (IRF) / Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES)

Balloon launched on 8/16/2021, from European Space Range, Kiruna, Sweden

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The objective of the mission was to perform several experiments in two different float altitudes. For this purpose, a CNES developed gondola denominated CARMENCITA was used. It is composed of a structure made of steel struts and balls with dimensions of 2.45 m x 1.85 m x 2.2 m. Total mass of the gondola is 190 kg being capable of transporting several payloads up to a mass of 410 kg.

The five experiments transported onboard were:

XENON an instrument developed at the Institut de physique du globe de Paris (IPGP) to measure the isotopic concentration of Xenon.

BERNADOTTE developed by Inserm Lyon an experiment aimed to test the impact of cosmic radiation on human cells at high altitudes.

NLC - SW a spectral imager developed by the Swedish Institutet för rymdfysik (IRF) aimed at studying polar mesospheric clouds using three high-resolution automated cameras.

MEDOR a technological experiment developed by the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES) consisting of a retractable solar panel which will be located below the gondola.

BRAD an instrument to perform in-situ atmospheric radiation measurements, also developed by CNES.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 8/16/2021 at 22:00 utc
Launch site: European Space Range, Kiruna, Sweden  
Balloon launched by: Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon model 150z 150.000 m3
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 8/17/2021 at  
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 15 h 56 m
Landing site: 100 km E of ESRANGE, Sweden
Campaign: KLIMAT 2021  

The balloon was launched by auxiliary balloon method from ESRANGE at 22:00 utc on August 16, 2021. After an ascent of two hours a first ceiling of 32.6 km was reached which was maintained for over five hours. After that, a controlled descent was started at 3 to 4 meters per second to reach a new ceiling between 19.5 km and 18.5 km for another five hours. Landing site was located about 100 km east of ESRANGE.

External references

Images of the mission

Pre-flight testing of the MEDOR system The payload being transported to the launch pad (Image: CNES/PRODIGIMA/GABORIAUD Romain, 2021) Inflation of the 150z balloon (Image: CNES/PRODIGIMA/GABORIAUD Romain, 2021) Release of the main balloon (Image: CNES/PRODIGIMA/GABORIAUD Romain, 2021)  

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