Purpose of the flight and payload description
CRANE (Cosmic Ray Albedo Nucleon Experiment) was an e1ectronic-mechanical instrument built at The University of Texas at Dallas aimed to perform measurements using a cosmic ray detector.
CRANE's mechanical innards pointed the detector in 23 positions in a 76-minute program that repeated through the duration of the flight. The detector was in a straight-up position for six minutes at the start of the cycle; then it tipped down 45 degrees while the package was rotated by a motor in five 72-degree stops. On each of the five stops around a circle, the detector scanned for three minutes. The five stops and three-minute scans were repeated with the detector moved down 90 degrees (45 degrees below the CRANE horizon). Then, the cycle ended with the detector pointed straight down for six minutes, and with no package rotation.
In addition to making high-altitude observations of cosmic radiation, CRANE served as a test bed for a small on-board computer capable of deciding what kind of energetic particles were being "seen". By making a preliminary analysis in flight, the experiment transmitted sorted data to the ground and used its telemetry circuits more effectively. The final goal was to use later versions of the computer in future satellite and deep-space probe experiments.
Details of the balloon flight
Balloon launched on: 11/7/1969 at 6:35 CDT
Launch site: Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, Palestine, Texas, US
Balloon launched by: NCAR National Scientific Balloon Flight Station
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon Winzen 1.180.000 cuft (0.6 mil. Stratofilm)
Flight identification number: 511P
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 11/7/1969
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): F 5 h 25 m
Landing site: In Homochitto forest, SE of Natchez, Mississippi, US
Payload weight: 330 lbs.
The flight was succesful despite an earlier termination due to failure of the scientific instrument.
External references
- CRANE flies to view cosmic rays, try out improved data equipment Advance, Vol. 6 Nº 2, Nov.Dec. 1969
- NCAR Scientific Balloon Facility Annual Report, 1969 National Center for Atmospheric Research, January 1970
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