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The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Strato-Science Balloon campaign has begun at the Timmins Stratospheric Balloon Base and includes the French space agency CNES.
According to the CSA “from August 25-September 27, four stratospheric balloons carrying 11 Canadian payloads will be launched from the Timmins Stratospheric Balloon Base to test new technologies and conduct science experiments. Each flight will last between 10 to 36 hours at an altitude ranging from 33-36 kilometres.”
The list of payloads includes:
Canadian Atmospheric Laser Absorption Spectroscopy Experiment Test-bed (CALASET)
Partners: University of Toronto
Objective: Improve an instrument that measures atmospheric gases at high altitudes.
High-Altitude Balloon Light at Night Experiment (HABLAN)
Partners: Cégep Sherbrooke, Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary)
Objective: Acquisition of multi-spectral images of nocturnal artificial light (light pollution).
Limb Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer Experiment (LIFE)
Partners: University of Saskatchewan, Environment Canada, ABB, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany)
Objective: Test an instrument capable of measuring greenhouse gases in the upper atmosphere.
Stratospheric Optical Rubidium Clock Experiment (SORCE)
Partners: University of Toronto
Objective: Demonstrate a compact atomic clock.
HiDRON
Partners: Stratodynamics Aviation Inc., Institute of Experimental Physics at Slovak Academy of Sciences (Slovakia), and UAVOS Inc.
Objective: Collect atmospheric and Earth observation data at high altitude.
World Observer Learning Flight (WOLF)
Partners: LaSalle Community Comprehensive High School (LCCHS)
Objective: Collect high-altitude atmospheric data.
Otachi-8 and ProtosAT-4
Partners: Nanikana Aerospatiale
Objective: Test radio communication and power modules, and film the ascent of a CubeSat.
Atmospheric Cloud Chamber of the Okanagan University (AC2O)
Partners: University of British Columbia, as part of the Canadian Stratospheric Balloon Experiment Design Challenge (CAN-SBX) led by Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS Canada)
Objective: Investigate particles in Earth’s upper atmosphere that originate from primary cosmic rays.
High-Altitude Balloon (HAB) Microbial Aerosols Sampling
Partners: Western University, as part of the CAN-SBX Challenge led by SEDS Canada
Objective: Obtain bio-aerosols and moisture samples vertically throughout Earth’s atmosphere.
SuperBIT
Partners: University of Toronto, Princeton University (USA), and Durham University (UK)
Objective: Verify the performance of the new telescope and camera of the instrument, which (once fully operational) will map out the distribution of dark matter around hundreds of galaxy clusters.
The CSA also said that “in addition, two smaller balloons (about the size of weather balloons) will be launched with educational payloads onboard. These balloons will burst at an altitude ranging from 30-35 km and will be recovered after landing with a parachute.”
