Astronomy at sub-millimeter wavelengths

Abstract

The first flight test of a gondola containing a Newtonian telescope with a 16 in. primary mirror is described. Bolometer tests were conducted along with gondola design studies, and changes were made in the mechanical system as a result. Parts of the system were rebuilt and tested, and it was found that the flight system had redundant data recording capabilities. In the total flight record, about 160 large signals were noted; about half of these appeared to have the correct shape for genuine signals, and the other were clearly noise spikes (they were large but the signal shape could not have been produced by the observation of a celestial object).