Strato-Science 2019 campaign
Four stratospheric balloons carrying 11 Canadian payloads were launched from the Timmins Stratospheric Balloon Base to test new technologies, conduct science experiments and take measurements at altitudes ranging from 18 to 39 km. The flights took place from to , and lasted between 12 and 28 hours each.
In addition, two smaller balloons (about the size of weather balloons) were launched with educational payloads onboard. These balloons burst at altitudes ranging from 30 to 35 km and were recovered after landing with a parachute.
List of payloads
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
LIFE team. Left to right: Doug Degenstein, Daniel Letros, Ethan Runge, Paul Loewen, Connor Schentag, Alexis Bourassa, Nick Lloyd, Jeff Langille, Adam Bourassa. (Credit: Adam Bourassa)
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
YouTube video - Stratos 2019. (Credit: Nanikana Aerospatiale)
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
AC2O team. (Credit : SEDS-Canada)
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
HAB team. (Credit : SEDS-Canada)
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
Contact
Should you have any questions regarding the STRATOS program, contact us at stratos_administration@asc-csa.gc.ca.