The ratio of electrons to positrons in the primary cosmic radiation.
Ratio of electron to positrons in primary cosmic radiation investigated by balloon-borne instrument over Ft. Churchill
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION↗
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Design for orientation of balloon-borne equipment.
Mechanical and electronic design of system to orient balloon-borne instrument package about vertical axis
Anderson, G. A.↗
A Far Infrared Sky Survey
Balloon-borne instrumentation for detection of far IR extended emission regions and bright point sources, describing results of initial flights
Frederick, C. L.↗
Solar protons E greater than 100 Mev incident over Antarctica during January- February 1967.
Commencing at 0825 +a -1 UT on January 28, 1967, a large and prolonged increase in the intensity of penetrating charged particles was observed by balloon-borne instruments floating over Byrd Station, Antarctica. (80°S, 120°W). A peak intensity of approximately 50 protons per cm 2 -sec-steradian with E> 100 MeV occurred at about 1230 UT on the 28th. The event was under observation almost continuously over a period of about 100 hours until the intensity decayed below cosmic-ray background on February 1. The initial decay was rapid but, some 40 hours after onset, went over into a slow exponential decay characterized by a 20 hour time-constant. The decay phase of an additional, though considerably less intense, event was observed on February 3 and 4. Presumably both events had their origins in major disturbances on the far side of the sun since nether event has been definitely linked to any feature which existed on the visible disk within an appropriate time interval. Results pertaining to the time-intensity profile and to the energy spectrum for protons E> 100 MeV are presented for the January 29 event. Comparison of the balloon results with neutron-monitor and satellite measurements and with models of interplanetary diffusion has led to some conclusions regarding the role of small-angle scattering by irregularities and by the random walk of magnetic lines of force relative to the mean interplanetary field within the orbit of earth.
Energy spectrum↗
Cosmic ray atmospheric neutron measurements at high elevations over a sunspot cycle
Atmospheric neutron production by cosmic radiation over sunspot cycle, measuring energy spectrum with airplanes and balloon-borne instruments
Korff, S. A.↗
Balloon observations of galactic and extragalactic objects at 100 microns.
Recent far-infrared balloon-borne instruments have yielded observations of a number of bright sources at 100 microns. Many of these coincide with HII regions where molecular line emision has been detected. There is some indication of 100 micron emission which does not coincide with radio measurements.
Hoffmann, W. F.↗
The carbon/oxygen ratio in high-energy cosmic rays
The abundance distribution of cosmic ray nuclei at 0.6 GeV/nucleon, 1.6 GeV/nucleon and between 20 and 100 GeV/nucleon has been measured by balloon-borne instrumentation. We find that the abundance ratio of carbon to oxygen decreases from 1.1 around 1 GeV/nucleon to a value of about 0.8 at energies above about 30 GeV/nucleon. Some implications of this result are discussed.
Juliusson, E.↗
Far-infrared observations of celestial objects by balloon-borne telescope.
The instrument described is an f/5 Newtonian telescope with a parabolic pyrex primary mirror. The telescope tube is 1.5 m long. A 61 cm baffle is included to provide shielding from off-axis objects such as the earth, the moon, and the sun. An outline of the regions covered by sky surveys in June 1970 and in April 1971 is presented. Approximately 750 square degrees of the sky have been covered, including 100 degrees along the galactic plane.
Hoffmann, W. F.↗
The liquid-xenon Compton telescope - A new technique for gamma-ray astronomy
We propose a new technique for gamma-ray astronomy in the difficult but important energy decade from 0.3 to 3.0 MeV. Cosmic gamma rays Compton scatter in a liquid-xenon wire proportional chamber recently developed at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (Derenzo, et al., 1972; Muller, et al., 1971) and then are totally absorbed in a second chamber. The energy and position of each interaction is recorded for each gamma ray. This information determines a circle on the celestial sphere which must intersect the source position. A localized source of gamma-rays would show itself as the intersection of many such circles. We expect to locate sources to a fraction of a square degree in a balloon-borne sky survey experiment using an instrument with a one steradian acceptance.
Dauber, P. M.↗
A large area multi-element telescope for measuring the cosmic ray isotope composition
To measure the isotopic composition of cosmic rays up to Fe an instrument is needed with good isotopic resolution and a large exposure. The large geometry needed for a balloon-borne detector has been obtained with large mapped detectors and a trajectory determining spark chamber. The instrument achieves isotopic resolution only for stopping particles. For low charge particles where there is no Cerenkov response the detector works as a multiple dE/dx-Range-Energy detector. For higher charges where scintillator saturation becomes important it becomes a Cerenkov-range measurement.
Fisher, A. J.↗
Ultraviolet stellar spectrophotometry from a balloon platform
A 40 centimeter diameter aperture, balloon-borne telescope and ultraviolet spectrometer is described and selected scientific results are briefly reviewed. The general configuration of the 0.4 angstrom resolution instrument is shown and the utilization of servo-controlled secondary mirror, image dissector detector, and special mirror coatings are discussed. An outlook for astronomical research in the mid-ultraviolet from balloon-borne telescopes is presented together with future development plans for JSC's balloon-borne payload.
Kondo, Y.↗
Balloon-borne package temperature controller
Simple, inexpensive, lightweight enclosure traps upward long wave radiation of earth while reflecting harsh solar radiation in upper atmosphere. It warms enclosed instruments in cold regions and protects them from overheating during the day. Device can be attached to balloon system without any changes in experimental design.
Schach, M.↗
A balloon-borne 1 meter telescope for far-infrared astronomy
The flight of a balloon-borne one-meter telescope for infrared astronomy in the wavelength interval of 40 to 240 microns is discussed. The gyro-stabilized telescope mapped the intensity of the far infrared radiation from NGC 7538, Mars, the Orion Nebula, and W3 with a resolution of one minute and from selected regions of these sources with a resolution of 30 seconds. The infrared detection is described and its capabilities are analyzed. The instrumentation, orientation system, and modes of observation of the telescope are defined.
Fazio, G. G.↗
Guiding of a balloon-borne coronagraph
Discussion of the guidance system of a balloon-borne coronagraph designed for IR solar corona observations at an altitude of 36 km. The coronagraph has two telescopes, measures 6 m in length, weighs 73 kg, is stabilized by a three-axis system, and has a pointing precision of plus or minus 10 sec of arc. Three torque motors are used to activate the tracking servo system of the coronagraph. An integral control system is used to prevent a permanent instrumental error. The coronagraph has been tested in two balloon missions.
Li, T.-C.↗
The Use of Large Lithium-Drifted, Germanium Diodes for Gamma-Ray Spectral Measurements at Balloon Altitudes
A series of balloon-borne experiments has been initiated at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in cooperation with the Space Sciences Laboratory of the NASA G. C. Marshall Space Flight Center to determine the feasibility of using large (greater than 20 cc) lithium-drifted, germanium diodes to investigate the spectrum of atmospheric gamma rays (60 keV < E < 1.5 MeV) at altitudes corresponding to a few grams per cm (sup 2) residual atmosphere. The results of these measurements will also provide a basis for designing an appropriate shield for a multi-diode, highly directional gamma-ray spectrometer for use in astrophysical measurements. Two flights were accomplished during 1967 using the same two diodes and basic instrument package. Both flights were launched at the NCAR Scientific Balloon Flight Base, Palestine, Texas, and attained a float altitude of 117, 000 ft. The measured atmospheric gamma-ray spectrum shows at least one distinct line at 511 keV (annihilation radiation) superimposed on a continuous distribution of gamma rays attributable to both energy-degraded gamma rays and brems-strahlung photons. A second diode, encased in a passive shield of plastic and lead, shows the expected lines resulting from both neutron inelastic scattering and capture in the germanium. Data acquisition was accomplished on an event-by-event basis through the use of 512-channel, on-board ADC and word-generator circuits and a ground-based, on-line telemetry decoder. The decoder makes it possible to store the data in the memory of a modified pulse-height analyzer simultaneously with storage on magnetic tape. This provides a real-time visual observation of the data as it is accumulated and greatly facilitates preflight calibrations.
Chapman, G. T.↗
Instrumentation for balloon and rocket experiments.
Description of a number of plasma, particle, and field detectors used on rocket investigations in and above the earth's atmosphere. Emphasis is on magnetospheric and solar-interplanetary studies. A balloon-borne X-ray telescope system with 20-min pointing accuracy is discussed. A PCM telemetry system used on both balloons and rockets to handle scientific data is described which includes a simple Doppler ranging system that gives location to 1.5 km. A system to reduce and analyze PCM data on the ground is discussed.
Anderson, K. A.↗
A quantitative investigation of the solar modulation of cosmic-ray protons and helium nuclei
The differential energy spectra of cosmic ray protons and He nuclei were measured at energies up to 315 MeV/nucleon using balloon-borne and satellite-borne instruments. These spectra are presented for solar quiet times for the years 1966 through 1970. The data analysis is verified by extensive accelerator calibrations of the detector systems and by calculations and measurements of the production of secondary protons in the atmosphere. The spectra of protons and He nuclei in this energy range are dominated by the solar modulation of the local interstellar spectra. Numerical solutions to the transport equation are presented for a wide range of parameters.
Garrard, T. L.↗
Apparatus for controlling the temperature of balloon-borne equipment
A novel apparatus for controlling the temperature of balloon-borne equipment is disclosed, the apparatus serving to utilize the radiant energy emitted by the earth and its atmosphere so as to control the temperature of equipment. The apparatus comprises a housing to be carried aloft by a balloon and defining an enclosure for an instrumentation package. The enclosure includes an upper shield portion as well as a bottom window portion at the base, the bottom window facing the earth below during flight. The upper shield portion is constructed of a material such as aluminized Mylar, which serves to reflect direct sunlight.
Schach, M.↗