Purpose of the flight and payload description
Search for anisotropy in the polarization of the cosmic microwave background. Modified version of the MAXIMA instrument.
Details of the balloon flight
Balloon launched on: 5/24/2003 at 15:07 utc
Launch site: Scientific Flight Balloon Facility, Fort Sumner, (NM), US
Balloon launched by: National Scientific Balloon Facility (NSBF)
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon Raven 29X - 29.470.000 mcuft - SF3-39.57-.8/.8/.8-NA
Balloon serial number: W29.47-2X-56
Flight identification number: 518N
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 5/25/2003 at 17:05 utc
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 26 h 33 m
Landing site: 8 miles SW of Wickenberg, Arizona, US
Payload weight: 5505 lbs
External references
- MAXIPOL website University of Minnesota
- Balloon launch Inside Wallops, Volume XX-03, Number 19, June 2, 2003
- MAXIPOL: a balloon-borne experiment for measuring the polarization anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation New Astronomy Reviews, Volume 47, Issues 1112, December 2003, Pag. 1067
- MAXIPOL: A Bolometric, Balloon-Borne Experiment for Measuring the Polarization Anisotropy of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation Thesis by Bradley R. Johnson, Columbia University, 2004
- MAXIPOL: Cosmic Microwave Background Polarimetry Using a Rotating Half-Wave Plate The Astrophysical Journal, 665:42-54, 2007
- MAXIPOL: Data Analysis and Results The Astrophysical Journal, 665:55-66, 2007
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