Strato-Science 2015 STRATOS campaign
The STRATOS campaign took place from to in Timmins, Ontario. Through this mission, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) provided a stratospheric flight opportunity for six payloads developed by industry and academia, as well as support and expert advice for payload preparation and integration.
Payload technical descriptions
Balloon-borne Imaging Testbed (BIT)
Developed by Professor Barth Netterfield from the University of Toronto, this wide-field imaging telescope prototype was designed to provide the highest resolution, visible light images of any instrument other than the Hubble Space Telescope. The objective of the flight was to validate a new method for making high-quality astronomical observations from a balloon. This half-metre telescope was designed to demonstrate that it is possible to look at stars and galaxies at a much higher resolution than can be done from the ground.
- Developed by:
- University of Toronto
- Principal investigator:
- Barth Netterfield
PAyload for Remote sounding of the Atmosphere using Balloon Limb Experiments (PARABLE)
Under the scientific leadership of Professor Kaley Walker from the University of Toronto, PARABLE is a suite of four payloads working together to take measurements of the atmosphere for climate change science and atmospheric pollution studies:
Portable Atmospheric Research Interferometric Spectrometer for the Infrared (PARIS-IR)
PARIS-IR was designed to measure the spectrum of sunlight that passes through different altitudes of the atmosphere to determine its chemical composition. The objective of the flight was to allow scientists to infer how the composition of the atmosphere changes with altitude. The measurements obtained are intended to be used to validate observations from the Canadian SCISAT satellite, which monitors the ozone layer and the atmosphere, and to track possible long-term changes in the atmosphere. This flight also assessed the performance of a new sun-tracker system used to point the instrument's field of view towards the sun.
Fourier Transform Spectrometer with Dynamical Alignment system (DA-2)
DA-2 is a Fourier transform spectrometer with dynamical alignment used to observe the composition of the atmosphere by measuring the spectrum of sunlight. The goals of the measurements were similar to those of PARIS-IR. This particular payload has been profiling air pollutants and ozone-destroying chemicals in the atmosphere since the 1970s. It used its historical data and made observations according to the new measurements obtained. A new data acquisition and instrument control system was also tested as part of this flight. Dr. Pierre Fogal of the University of Toronto was the payload lead.
SunPhotoSpectrometer, Balloon version (SPS-B)
SPS-B is a sunphotospectrometer that has the ability to measure a whole spectrum of light at once with a detector similar to that found in a digital camera. Each pixel can look at a different wavelength of light. SPS-B measured the light as the sun sets below the balloon's altitude. While PARIS-IR and DA-2 took measurements in the infrared, SPS-B's data was in the ultraviolet and visible parts of the solar spectrum. Dr. Tom McElroy of York University was responsible for the payload.
O2 Spectrometer (O2S)
O2S was designed to measure the amount of molecular oxygen below the balloon. The information collected is used for the development of a system that will measure near-surface carbon dioxide and methane—both greenhouse gases—from space. The payload's measurements also helped assess the performance of a new pointing system that is intended for eventual space applications. Dr. Tom McElroy of York University was responsible for the payload.
- Developed by:
- University of Toronto
- Principal investigator:
- Kaley Walker
Self-contained 360° camera rig
The 360° camera rig is a set of high-resolution cameras using a revolutionary 360-degree technology that captured a sub-orbital view of Earth during the balloon's 38-km ascent and flight into the stratosphere. DEEP Inc. is behind this new technology.
- Developed by:
- DEEP Inc.
Contact
Should you have any questions regarding the STRATOS program, contact us at stratos_administration@asc-csa.gc.ca.
Explore further
- About the CSA stratospheric balloon program, STRATOS
- What is a stratospheric balloon and a typical flight campaign?
- STRATOS campaigns
- Date modified: