Purpose of the flight and payload description
*** PAYLOAD DESCRIPTION WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON ***
News about the crash
Details of the balloon flight
Balloon launched on: 2/16/1988 at 20:52 utc
Launch site: Australian Balloon Launching Station, Alice Springs, Australia
Balloon launched by: National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon N29I-8/8/8T-28.40
Balloon serial number: R28.40-2-101
Flight identification number: 243N
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 2/25/1988 at 11:30 local time
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 9 d
Landing site: Mogi Mirim, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The balloon was launched from Alice Springs, Australia on February 16, 1988. After a nominal ascent, the balloon started a eastbound path crossing the Pacific Ocean in 9 days. After reaching southamerica, the mission was terminated as intended over the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil but during descent the parachute deviated from its planned trajectory due to unexpected wind currents, resulting in an unscheduled impact in the town of Mogi Mirim, in the Campinas region. The impact occurred at 11:30 a.m., causing structural damage to a residential property located at 353 in Padre José street. The occupants, a family of three, evacuated without injury, though the roof, water tank, plumbing, and electrical systems sustained significant damage. Upon impact, the steel cables securing the payload to the parachute ruptured, striking power lines connected to the SE-1 substation and causing a two-hour power outage in the area. Recovery operations were conducted using a bulldozer provided by CESP and were completed by 16:30 under the supervision of staff from the National Scientific Balloon Facility, and INPE. Preliminary inspection confirmed no critical damage to the scientific equipment.
The recovered equipment was transferred to INPE for further evaluation.
External references
- Balão de la NASA e recuperado pelo INPE Informe INPE em dia Nº 60, 1988
- Instrumentação a bordo de balões amplia conhecimento do universo Revista Espacial Año XVII Nº 68 - Marzo/Abril 1988
- Recent results in the NASA research balloon program 27th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 1989
Images of the mission
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