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MEAP/P-BACE launch and flight

MEAP/P-BACE launch and flight. Martin Wieser Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden and the MEAP/P-BACE team. Wanted: Payload. October 2007, Esrange: Test of a circumpolar balloon flight Scientific payload needed 35..40km altitude 100kg Ready for launch Summer 2008. 0 km. =.

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MEAP/P-BACE launch and flight

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  1. MEAP/P-BACE launch and flight Martin WieserSwedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden and the MEAP/P-BACE team

  2. Wanted: Payload • October 2007, Esrange: Test of a circumpolar balloon flight • Scientific payload needed • 35..40km altitude • 100kg • Ready for launch Summer 2008

  3. 0 km = 35 km MEAP Mars Environment Analogue Platform A stratospheric balloon platform for technology tests • Earth stratosphere ≈ Mars atmosphere at surface • Earth stratosphere is a natural test environment for instruments for Martian landers • Use long duration stratospheric balloon flight for extended tests

  4. P-BACE Polar - Balloon Atmospheric Composition Experiment A high resolution neutral gas mass spectrometer • Built by University of Bern and Swedish Institute of Space Physics • Mass spectrometer for planetary missions • Test fly the instrument design in a representative environment and under realistic conditions • Measure atmospheric composition with high mass resolution

  5. MEAP/P-BACE collaboration D. Abplanalp, P. Wurz University of Bern, Switzerland PI-Institution, P-BACE hardware M. Wieser, L. Kalla Institutet för rymdfysik P-BACE software, communication link,logistics T. Hedqvist Esrange Space Center Balloon and platform

  6. P-BACE Sensor • Neutral gas mass spectrometer of reflectron time-of-flight type with own vacuum system • Mass resolution m/dm >= 1000 • Mass range:1.. 1000 amu/q • One full mass spectrum every 65 seconds • 6-7 orders of magnitude dynamic range (in 65 seconds)‏ • Sensor mass: 2kg

  7. P-BACE instrument • P-BACE sensor head • Linux based control computer • Commercial data acquisition board used for front end electronics and data recording • Two 2400bps Iridium satellite links for telemetry and commanding • Two GPS receivers • Two redundant 16GByte solid state disks, recovered after landing • Auxiliary sensors for pressure and temperature • 90 kg • 150W • Pressurized vessel73cm x 71cm x 56cm

  8. ~5 days Recovery in Canada Semicircular flight • ~14 days • Recovery in Sweden

  9. The balloon 11 Million cft ~334 000 m3Helium Gondola:~400kg, (total susp. weight on balloon ~900kg)‏ Solar arrays on all 4 sides,> 200W on illuminated side Scientific payload: 90kg, 150W 200 m

  10. P-BACE on MEAP Iridium & GPS Satellites Redundant Iridium & GPS antennas P-BACE pressure vessel Gas feeding pump Platform control Power distribution Batteries Gas inlet with microfilter 3.7m boom Solar arrays

  11. IntegratedGondola • GPS and Iridium antennas • Payload container • P-BACE gas inlet boom • Crash pads • Solar pannels • Ballast

  12. Operations

  13. Waiting for launch • Launch window opened 9. June • Several launch attempts but always bad weather • In mean time: • Testing, testing, testing... • Improving procedures... • A lot of coffee... • ... • Webcam(attempt.m2v)

  14. 28. June 2008 05:07 UTC Launch

  15. LaunchPreparations

  16. Filling

  17. Launch movies • Webcam(webcamlaunch.avi) • Launch movie 1(launch_still_images.avi) • Launch movie 2(MVI_2340_rot.avi)

  18. Seen by many eyes... Image: MST radar data Launch05:07 UTC Image: Stefan Bühler

  19. MEAP/P-BACE flight path • Launched from Esrange, Sweden on June 28 • Semicircular flight following the summer polar vortex • 116 hours flight time • 5818 km distance • Altitude 33..38 km • Landed in Canada, 135km from Umingmaktok, on July 3. Background image: NASA, http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/

  20. Altitude profile

  21. Commanding and telemetry P-BACE Ground segment IRF-K GSE Iridium Modem A + B Modem GPS A + B PTSN Network IridiumGateway Iridium satellite network Onboard computer Storage Storage A + B P-BACESensor IRF Webserver 2400 bps Short burst data (like SMS)‏

  22. H2 N2 N Ar He P-BACE data example Quick look data: • Zoom in: • Raw data • No background subtracted • Dynamic range: 6-7 orders of magnitude • Mass range:1-1000 amu/q, (1-50 shown)‏

  23. Termination Image: Google • Termination movie(balloon_termination.flv, Parachute test flight for Mars Science Lander /JPL, http://stratocat.com)

  24. 3. July 2008 01:10 UTC Landing

  25. Touchdown Image: Google Google shows many lakes.... Image: CSBF MEAP on parachute as seen from recovery aircraft moments before touchdown. Image: CSBF Lucky landing on dry land...

  26. MEAP back on ground MEAP with crashed solar panels (as planned) but otherwise completely intact. P-BACE was still recording GPS data! MEAP with remainder of flight train and recovery helicopter in background

  27. Image: Google 135km to Umingmaktok Umingmaktok airfield Umingmaktok, Nunavut MEAP gondola arrives (movie) (uming.mpg) CSBF recovery crew

  28. Solid state disk recovery • Instrument was found in very good condition • Both disks were taken out of the instrument and data copied successfully • Instrument prepared for transport by air

  29. November 2007 Decision to fly P-BACE on MEAP November 2007 - March 2008 P-BACE development + manufacturing March 2008 Onboard and ground software development April 2008 Integration of P-BACE April - Mai 2008 Test & Calibration Late Mai 2008 Shipping to Esrange, Sweden Begin June 2008 Integration with MEAP, final software tests During June 2008 Flight rehearsal, two launch attempts June 28 - July 3, 2008 Flight Development timeline

  30. Summary • Demonstrated fast development process • Very successful flight of MEAP/P-BACE • All objectives fulfilled • Valuable expertise gained by all involved parties • Instrument back in Bern for refurbishment and post-calibration • Data analysis in progress http://www.irf.se/meap-pbace

  31. Launch 22. October 2008

  32. Supplementary slides

  33. Atmospheric composition Average measured 2000 at Mauna Loa Hawaii, http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/ftp/maunaloa-co2/maunaloa.co2 The planetary scientists companion

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