Photo report

Pilot, Carmen and Climate missions in Australia

Pilot, Carmen and Climate missions in Australia

20170104_0001
127 media
20170104_0001
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0001
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0002
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0002
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0003
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0003
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0004
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0004
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0005
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0005
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0006
Open media modal

Preparing the CASOLBA mission, with the CARMEN gondola visible in the background at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CASOLBA (CALibration of SOLar cells for BAlloon flight) mission payload consists of 60 photovoltaic solar cells. The aim of the mission is to calibrate the cells in real-life, quasi-space conditions. The cells will serve as primary calibration standards, from which to produce secondary standards that will in turn be used by manufacturers of solar cells…

Photo
20170104_0006
Préparation de la mission CASOLBA avec, en arrière plan, la nacelle CARMEN
20170104_0007
Open media modal

A row of containers for the "Austral" balloon launch campaign facing the buildings at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical…

Photo
20170104_0007
Rangée de containers de la campagne Austral, face à la base de lancement ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0008
Open media modal

Preparing the CASOLBA mission, with the CARMEN gondola visible in the background at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CASOLBA mission payload consists of 60 photovoltaic solar cells. The aim of the mission is to calibrate the cells in real-life, quasi-space conditions. The cells will serve as primary calibration standards, from which to produce secondary standards that will in turn be used by manufacturers of solar cells intended for satellites. CASOLBA has been installed…

Photo
20170104_0008
Préparation de la mission CASOLBA avec, en arrière plan, la nacelle CARMEN
20170104_0009
Open media modal

Preparing the CLIMAT gondola for flight, with the CARMEN gondola visible in the background at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CLIMAT mission ( Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ Measurement of the Atmosphere of Earth) concerns a group of experiments by French and European laboratories aimed at furthering research into atmospheric physics and chemistry. CLIMAT is a 240kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a ceiling altitude of 33 km. For…

Photo
20170104_0009
Préparation du vol de la nacelle CLIMAT à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0010
Open media modal

The CLIMAT science and engineering team, prior to lift-off from the Alice Springs balloon launch base. The CLIMAT mission ( Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ Measurement of the Atmosphere of Earth) concerns a group of experiments by French and European laboratories aimed at furthering research into atmospheric physics and chemistry. CLIMAT is a 240kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a ceiling altitude of 33 km. For example, its 2015 flight enabled scientists to…

Photo
20170104_0010
Equipe technique et scientifique de CLIMAT, avant son vol
20170104_0011
Open media modal

Detailed view of the CLIMAT gondola being prepared at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CLIMAT mission ( Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ Measurement of the Atmosphere of Earth) concerns a group of experiments by French and European laboratories aimed at furthering research into atmospheric physics and chemistry. CLIMAT is a 240kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a ceiling altitude of 33 km. For example, its 2015 flight enabled scientists…

Photo
20170104_0011
Détail de la nacelle CLIMAT
20170104_0012
Open media modal

Configuring the solar cells for the CASOLBA mission at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CASOLBA (CALibration of SOLar cells for BAlloon flight) mission payload consists of 60 photovoltaic solar cells. The aim of the mission is to calibrate the cells in real-life, quasi-space conditions. The cells will serve as primary calibration standards, from which to produce secondary standards that will in turn be used by manufacturers of solar cells intended for satellites. CASOLBA…

Photo
20170104_0012
Réglages des cellules solaires du dispositif de la mission CASOLBA
20170104_0013
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0013
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0014
Open media modal

Assembling the auxiliary balloon in preparation for flight at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. The gondolas for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA mission will be suspended from…

Photo
20170104_0014
Assemblage du ballon auxiliaire en préparation des chaînes de vol
20170104_0015
Open media modal

Assembling the auxiliary balloon in preparation for flight at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. The gondolas for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA mission will be suspended from…

Photo
20170104_0015
Assemblage du ballon auxiliaire en préparation des chaînes de vol
20170104_0016
Open media modal

Assembling the auxiliary balloon in preparation for flight at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. The gondolas for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA mission will be suspended from…

Photo
20170104_0016
Assemblage du ballon auxiliaire en préparation des chaînes de vol
20170104_0017
Open media modal

Assembling the auxiliary balloon in preparation for flight at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. The gondolas for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA mission will be suspended from…

Photo
20170104_0017
Assemblage du ballon auxiliaire en préparation des chaînes de vol
20170104_0018
Open media modal

A row of containers for the "Austral" balloon launch campaign facing the buildings at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical…

Photo
20170104_0018
Rangée de containers de la campagne Austral, face à la base de lancement ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0019
Open media modal

Launch site for the "Austral" campaign in Alice Springs, Australia. The preparation hall for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions can be seen on the right. The hangar to its left is devoted entirely to preparing the balloons that will carry the mission payloads to altitudes of several tens of kilometres. The Alice Springs facility's location in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions…

Photo
20170104_0019
Site de la campagne Austral à Alice Springs
20170104_0020
Open media modal

View of the desert surrounding the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using balloons than using…

Photo
20170104_0020
Désert environnant la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs, en Australie
20170104_0021
Open media modal

View of the desert surrounding the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using balloons than using…

Photo
20170104_0021
Désert environnant la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs, en Australie
20170104_0022
Open media modal

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

Photo
20170104_0022
Identification de la direction du vent à l'aide d'un ballon captif
20170104_0023
Open media modal

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

Photo
20170104_0023
Identification de la direction du vent à l'aide d'un ballon captif
20170104_0024
Open media modal

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

Photo
20170104_0024
Identification de la direction du vent à l'aide d'un ballon captif
20170104_0025
Open media modal

The team of balloon engineers working on the "Austral" campaign deploy a test balloon at the Alice Springs launch facility in Australia. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions in April 2017. These gondolas, lifted by helium-filled balloons, were launched to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. To enable this, the research team consulted data from satellites and test balloons in search of the ideal meteorological conditions. To maximise…

Photo
20170104_0025
Sortie d'un ballon captif par l'équipe de ballonniers de la campagne Austral, sur le site d'Alice Springs
20170104_0026
Open media modal

Wheeling out the CLIMAT gondola at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The red and white object is the Aircore instrument developed by the dynamic meteorology laboratory (Labo de Météo Dynamique - LMD) in Paris. This instrument performs a form of "air coring", sucking in air that is subsequently analysed on the ground in order to reveal the respective concentrations of the various atmospheric constituents. The CLIMAT mission ( Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ…

Photo
20170104_0026
Sortie de la nacelle CLIMAT, à la base d'Alice Springs
20170104_0027
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0027
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0028
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0028
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0029
Open media modal

Pre-flight preparation of the PILOT gondola at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Hoisted aloft by a high-altitude balloon on 16 and 17 April 2017, in near-interstellar vacuum conditions, PILOT was controlled in real time by a time of scientists, who were able to collect signals normally blocked by the Earth's atmosphere. This invaluable data will provide new insights into the history of the universe.

Photo
20170104_0029
Préparation du vol de la nacelle PILOT à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0030
Open media modal

The inflight scientific data monitoring software application, during preparations for the PILOT mission, at the Alice Springs balloon launch base. Hoisted aloft by a high-altitude balloon on 16 and 17 April 2017, in near-interstellar vacuum conditions, the PILOT gondola, carrying a telescope, was controlled in real time by a time of scientists, who were able to collect signals normally blocked by the Earth's atmosphere. This invaluable data will provide new insights into the history of the…

Photo
20170104_0030
Logiciel de suivi de données scientifiques en vol, en préparation de la mission PILOT
20170104_0031
Open media modal

Camion transportant des bâches en préparation d'un vol, sur le site de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs, en Australie. Les bâches sont obligatoirement disposées au sol avant de déplier le ballon principal afin de ne pas endommager ce dernier. Lors du lâcher, le camion permet de retenir le ballon auxiliaire et grâce à son treuil (caisse métallique à l’arrière) il vient fixer la nacelle charge utile avant le lancement.

Photo
20170104_0031
Camion transportant des bâches en préparation d'un vol
20170104_0032
Open media modal

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

Photo
20170104_0032
Identification de la direction du vent à l'aide d'un ballon captif
20170104_0033
Open media modal

Rehearsing launch operations on the asphalt at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Before a stratospheric balloon is launched, the flight assembly must be set up. This generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. Measurements are more economical and…

Photo
20170104_0033
Répétitions des opérations de lancement de ballons sur le tarmac de la base d'Alice Springs
20170104_0034
Open media modal

Rehearsing launch operations on the asphalt at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Before a stratospheric balloon is launched, the flight assembly must be set up. This generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. Measurements are more economical and…

Photo
20170104_0034
Répétitions des opérations de lancement de ballons sur le tarmac de la base d'Alice Springs.
20170104_0035
Open media modal

Rehearsing launch operations on the asphalt at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Before a stratospheric balloon is launched, the flight assembly must be set up. This generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. Measurements are more economical and…

Photo
20170104_0035
Répétitions des opérations de lancement de ballons sur le tarmac de la base d'Alice Springs.
20170104_0036
Open media modal

Rehearsing launch operations on the asphalt at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Before a stratospheric balloon is launched, the flight assembly must be set up. This generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. Measurements are more economical and…

Photo
20170104_0036
Répétitions des opérations de lancement de ballons sur le tarmac de la base d'Alice Springs.
20170104_0037
Open media modal

Rehearsing launch operations on the asphalt at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Before a stratospheric balloon is launched, the flight assembly must be set up. This generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. Measurements are more economical and…

Photo
20170104_0037
Répétitions des opérations de lancement de ballons sur le tarmac de la base d'Alice Springs.
20170104_0038
Open media modal

Pyrotechnic separation device at the top of the flight assembly (triple-parachute top section), awaiting installation in the envelope gondola as part of the preparations for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions, at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small…

Photo
20170104_0038
Séparateur pyrotechnique (SEPP) au sommet de la chaîne de vol
20170104_0039
Open media modal

Deploying the top (triple-parachute) section of a balloon gondola's flight assembly, in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. This flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off…

Photo
20170104_0039
Déploiement de la partie haute de la chaîne de vol d'une nacelle, sur le site d'Alice Springs
20170104_0040
Open media modal

Parachute spreader awaiting installation in the operational service gondola, in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. It contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and…

Photo
20170104_0040
Palonnier parachute en attente de son intégration à la nacelle servitude (NSO)
20170104_0041
Open media modal

Parachute spreader awaiting installation in the operational service gondola, in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. It contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and…

Photo
20170104_0041
Palonnier parachute en attente de son intégration à la nacelle servitude (NSO)
20170104_0042
Open media modal

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

Photo
20170104_0042
Identification de la direction du vent à l'aide d'un ballon captif
20170104_0043
Open media modal

Preparing the operational service gondola. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. The operational service gondola contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and ballast container. In particular, these gondolas enable the actuation of gas- or ballast-releasing devices, to control…

Photo
20170104_0043
Préparation de la nacelle de servitudes opérationnelles (NSO)
20170104_0044
Open media modal

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

Photo
20170104_0044
Identification de la direction du vent à l'aide d'un ballon captif
20170104_0045
Open media modal

Preparing the operational service gondola. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. The operational service gondola contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and ballast container. In particular, these gondolas enable the actuation of gas- or ballast-releasing devices, to control…

Photo
20170104_0045
Préparation de la nacelle de servitudes opérationnelles (NSO)
20170104_0046
Open media modal

Preparing the operational service gondola. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. The operational service gondola contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and ballast container. In particular, these gondolas enable the actuation of gas- or ballast-releasing devices, to control…

Photo
20170104_0046
Préparation de la nacelle de servitudes opérationnelles (NSO)
20170104_0047
Open media modal

Preparing the operational service gondola. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. The operational service gondola contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and ballast container. In particular, these gondolas enable the actuation of gas- or ballast-releasing devices, to control…

Photo
20170104_0047
Préparation de la nacelle de servitudes opérationnelles (NSO)
20170104_0048
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0048
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0049
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0049
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0050
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0050
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0051
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0051
La nacelle PILOT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0052
Open media modal

View of the landscape at Telegraph Station, not far from the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using…

Photo
20170104_0052
Paysage de Telegraph Station, non loin de la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0053
Open media modal

View of the landscape at Telegraph Station, not far from the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using…

Photo
20170104_0053
Paysage de Telegraph Station, non loin de la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0054
Open media modal

View of the landscape at Telegraph Station, not far from the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using…

Photo
20170104_0054
Paysage de Telegraph Station, non loin de la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0055
Open media modal

View of the landscape at Telegraph Station, not far from the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using…

Photo
20170104_0055
Paysage de Telegraph Station, non loin de la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0056
Open media modal

Operational service gondolas. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. The operational service gondola contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and ballast container. In particular, these gondolas enable the actuation of gas- or ballast-releasing devices, to control the balloon's…

Photo
20170104_0056
Nacelles de servitudes opérationnelles (NSO)
20170104_0057
Open media modal

The CLIMAT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The red and white object is the Aircore instrument developed by the dynamic meteorology laboratory (Labo de Météo Dynamique - LMD) in Paris. This instrument performs a form of "air coring", sucking in air that is subsequently analysed on the ground in order to reveal the respective concentrations of the various atmospheric constituents. The CLIMAT mission ( Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in…

Photo
20170104_0057
La nacelle CLIMAT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0058
Open media modal

The CLIMAT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The red and white object is the Aircore instrument developed by the dynamic meteorology laboratory (Labo de Météo Dynamique - LMD) in Paris. This instrument performs a form of "air coring", sucking in air that is subsequently analysed on the ground in order to reveal the respective concentrations of the various atmospheric constituents. The CLIMAT mission ( Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in…

Photo
20170104_0058
La nacelle CLIMAT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0059
Open media modal

The CLIMAT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The red and white object is the Aircore instrument developed by the dynamic meteorology laboratory (Labo de Météo Dynamique - LMD) in Paris. This instrument performs a form of "air coring", sucking in air that is subsequently analysed on the ground in order to reveal the respective concentrations of the various atmospheric constituents. The CLIMAT mission ( Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in…

Photo
20170104_0059
La nacelle CLIMAT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0060
Open media modal

The CLIMAT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The red and white object is the Aircore instrument developed by the dynamic meteorology laboratory (Labo de Météo Dynamique - LMD) in Paris. This instrument performs a form of "air coring", sucking in air that is subsequently analysed on the ground in order to reveal the respective concentrations of the various atmospheric constituents. The CLIMAT mission ( Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in…

Photo
20170104_0060
La nacelle CLIMAT en préparation à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0061
Open media modal

Adjusting the CARMEN gondola pivot at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. CARMEN (ChARacterisation and Modelling of the Environment) is a gondola designed to carry a modular payload of scientific instruments, suspended from a stratospheric balloon. It eliminates the need to develop dedicated gondolas (designed specifically for a particular instrument and as such, impractical to reuse). CASOLBA was installed in CARMEN for the Austral campaign of April 2017. The CASOLBA …

Photo
20170104_0061
Réglages du pivot de la nacelle CARMEN
20170104_0062
Open media modal

Adjusting the CARMEN gondola pivot at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. CARMEN (ChARacterisation and Modelling of the Environment) is a gondola designed to carry a modular payload of scientific instruments, suspended from a stratospheric balloon. It eliminates the need to develop dedicated gondolas (designed specifically for a particular instrument and as such, impractical to reuse). CASOLBA was installed in CARMEN for the Austral campaign of April 2017. The CASOLBA …

Photo
20170104_0062
Réglages du pivot de la nacelle CARMEN
20170104_0063
Open media modal

The CLIMAT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The red and white object is the Aircore instrument developed by the dynamic meteorology laboratory (Labo de Météo Dynamique - LMD) in Paris. This instrument performs a form of "air coring", sucking in air that is subsequently analysed on the ground in order to reveal the respective concentrations of the various atmospheric constituents. The CLIMAT mission (Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in…

Photo
20170104_0063
Préparation du vol de la nacelle CLIMAT à la base de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs
20170104_0064
Open media modal

The meteorology officer reports to the mission manager regarding the high-altitude wind conditions forecast for the CLIMAT flight, and hence the most appropriate mission profile. Allowing for any safety considerations relating to the flight, the mission manager then announces a proposed launch date and time to his team of scientists. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions (PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA) must be planned to coincide with…

Photo
20170104_0064
Présentation des conditions de vent en altitude prévues pour le vol de CLIMAT
20170104_0065
Open media modal

The meteorology officer presents the mission profile envisaged for the CLIMAT flight to the mission manager. This presentation follows a detailed analysis of the high-altitude wind forecasts. Allowing for any safety considerations relating to the flight, the mission manager then announces a proposed launch date and time to his team of scientists. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions (PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA) must be planned to coincide…

Photo
20170104_0065
Le responsable météo présente le profil de mission envisagé pour le vol de CLIMAT
20170104_0066
Open media modal

Fitting out the upper platform in the CARMEN gondola at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. CARMEN (ChARacterisation and Modelling of the Environment) is a gondola designed to carry a modular payload of scientific instruments, suspended from a stratospheric balloon. It eliminates the need to develop dedicated gondolas (designed specifically for a particular instrument and as such, impractical to reuse). CASOLBA was installed in CARMEN for the Austral campaign of April 2017. The…

Photo
20170104_0066
Aménagement du plateau supérieur de la nacelle CARMEN
20170104_0067
Open media modal

Moving from the inflation station to the launch area, as part of the preparations for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The small balloons are released shortly before the main launch, to provide a visual indication of the wind direction in addition to the data from the tethered balloon. The tethered balloon indicates the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches…

Photo
20170104_0067
Départ du banc de gonflage vers l’aire de lâcher, sur le site d'Alice Springs
20170104_0068
Open media modal

Sunset viewed from the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using balloons than using satellites. Balloons…

Photo
20170104_0068
Coucher de soleil depuis la base d'Alice Springs, en Australie
20170104_0069
Open media modal

Sunset viewed from the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using balloons than using satellites. Balloons…

Photo
20170104_0069
Coucher de soleil depuis la base d'Alice Springs, en Australie
20170104_0070
Open media modal

Rolling out the PILOT gondola from its hangar, in preparation for tests at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These…

Photo
20170104_0070
Sortie du hangar de la nacelle PILOT en vue d'effectuer des tests à la base d'Alice Springs
20170104_0071
Open media modal

Rolling out the PILOT gondola from its hangar, in preparation for tests at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These…

Photo
20170104_0071
Sortie du hangar de la nacelle PILOT en vue d'effectuer des tests à la base d'Alice Springs
20170104_0072
Open media modal

Rolling out the PILOT gondola from its hangar, in preparation for tests at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These…

Photo
20170104_0072
Sortie du hangar de la nacelle PILOT en vue d'effectuer des tests à la base d'Alice Springs
20170104_0073
Open media modal

Rolling out the PILOT gondola from its hangar, in preparation for tests at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These…

Photo
20170104_0073
Sortie du hangar de la nacelle PILOT en vue d'effectuer des tests à la base d'Alice Springs
20170104_0074
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola returns at dawn after a series of night-time tests at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These…

Photo
20170104_0074
Rentrée de la nacelle PILOT, après une série de tests nocturnes, à la base d'Alice Springs
20170104_0075
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola returns at dawn after a series of night-time tests at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These…

Photo
20170104_0075
Rentrée de la nacelle PILOT, après une série de tests nocturnes, à la base d'Alice Springs
20170104_0076
Open media modal

Launching a lightweight dilatable sounding balloon in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These small, sealed dilatable balloons are of the same type as used to gather meteorological data (weather balloons). Despite having a limited payload weight, this type of balloon can collect a great deal of useful data via a wide variety of instruments, such as particle counters or ozone meters, which measure the ozone…

Photo
20170104_0076
Lancement d'un ballon léger dilatable (BLD) sur le site d'Alice Springs
20170104_0077
Open media modal

Launching a lightweight dilatable sounding balloon in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These small, sealed dilatable balloons are of the same type as used to gather meteorological data (weather balloons). Despite having a limited payload weight, this type of balloon can collect a great deal of useful data via a wide variety of instruments, such as particle counters or ozone meters, which measure the ozone…

Photo
20170104_0077
Lancement d'un ballon léger dilatable (BLD) sur le site d'Alice Springs
20170104_0078
Open media modal

Preparing for the CASOLBA mission at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CASOLBA (CALibration of SOLar cells for BAlloon flight) mission payload consists of 60 photovoltaic solar cells. The aim of the mission is to calibrate the cells in real-life, quasi-space conditions. The cells will serve as primary calibration standards, from which to produce secondary standards that will in turn be used by manufacturers of solar cells intended for satellites. CASOLBA has been installed…

Photo
20170104_0078
Préparation de la mission CASOLBA à la base d'Alice Springs
20170104_0079
Open media modal

Configuring the solar cells for the CASOLBA mission at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CASOLBA (CALibration of SOLar cells for BAlloon flight) mission payload consists of 60 photovoltaic solar cells. The aim of the mission is to calibrate the cells in real-life, quasi-space conditions. The cells will serve as primary calibration standards, from which to produce secondary standards that will in turn be used by manufacturers of solar cells intended for satellites. CASOLBA…

Photo
20170104_0079
Réglages des cellules solaires du dispositif de la mission CASOLBA
20170104_0080
Open media modal

Configuring the solar cells for the CASOLBA mission at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CASOLBA (CALibration of SOLar cells for BAlloon flight) mission payload consists of 60 photovoltaic solar cells. The aim of the mission is to calibrate the cells in real-life, quasi-space conditions. The cells will serve as primary calibration standards, from which to produce secondary standards that will in turn be used by manufacturers of solar cells intended for satellites. CASOLBA…

Photo
20170104_0080
Réglages des cellules solaires du dispositif de la mission CASOLBA
20170104_0081
Open media modal

Preparing for the CASOLBA mission at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CASOLBA (CALibration of SOLar cells for BAlloon flight) mission payload consists of 60 photovoltaic solar cells. The aim of the mission is to calibrate the cells in real-life, quasi-space conditions. The cells will serve as primary calibration standards, from which to produce secondary standards that will in turn be used by manufacturers of solar cells intended for satellites. CASOLBA has been installed…

Photo
20170104_0081
Préparation de la mission CASOLBA à la base d'Alice Springs
20170104_0082
Open media modal

Meeting to prepare for post-flight operations to recover the balloon envelope and the flight string including the science gondola. This meeting was held as part of the preparations for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA mission flights at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The mission gondolas, lifted by helium-filled balloons, were launched to an altitude of several tens of kilometres in April 2017. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using balloons than using…

Photo
20170104_0082
Réunion de préparation des opérations de récupération des éléments de vol
20170104_0083
Open media modal

Preparing the scientific instruments for the CARMEN gondola at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. CARMEN (ChARacterisation and Modelling of the Environment) is a gondola designed to carry a modular payload of scientific instruments, suspended from a stratospheric balloon. It eliminates the need to develop dedicated gondolas (designed specifically for a particular instrument and as such, impractical to reuse). CASOLBA was installed in CARMEN for the Austral campaign of April…

Photo
20170104_0083
Préparation des instruments scientifiques de la nacelle CARMEN
20170104_0084
Open media modal

Preparing the CARMEN gondola at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. CARMEN (ChARacterisation and Modelling of the Environment) is a gondola designed to carry a modular payload of scientific instruments, suspended from a stratospheric balloon. It eliminates the need to develop dedicated gondolas (designed specifically for a particular instrument and as such, impractical to reuse). CASOLBA was installed in CARMEN for the Austral campaign of April 2017. The CASOLBA (CALibration of…

Photo
20170104_0084
Préparation de la nacelle CARMEN, à la base de lancement d'Alice Springs
20170104_0085
Open media modal

Solar cells for the CASOLBA mission at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CASOLBA (CALibration of SOLar cells for BAlloon flight) mission payload consists of 60 photovoltaic solar cells. The aim of the mission is to calibrate the cells in real-life, quasi-space conditions. The cells will serve as primary calibration standards, from which to produce secondary standards that will in turn be used by manufacturers of solar cells intended for satellites. CASOLBA has been…

Photo
20170104_0085
Cellules solaires du dispositif de la mission CASOLBA à la base de lancement d'Alice Springs
20170104_0087
Open media modal

Preparing the CARMEN gondola at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. CARMEN (ChARacterisation and Modelling of the Environment) is a gondola designed to carry a modular payload of scientific instruments, suspended from a stratospheric balloon. It eliminates the need to develop dedicated gondolas (designed specifically for a particular instrument and as such, impractical to reuse). CASOLBA was installed in CARMEN for the Austral campaign of April 2017. The CASOLBA (CALibration of…

Photo
20170104_0087
Préparation de la nacelle CARMEN, à la base de lancement d'Alice Springs
20170104_0088
Open media modal

Configuring the radar transponder part of the flight string, in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. This operation is performed before each flight, as part of the operational service gondola configuration procedure. The role of the radar transponder is to enable communication with other aircraft. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and…

Photo
20170104_0088
Paramétrage du transpondeur radar de la chaîne de vol
20170104_0089
Open media modal

Weather check before launching the CLIMAT gondola at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CLIMAT flight (Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ Measurement of the Atmosphere of Earth) concerns a group of experiments by French and European laboratories aimed at furthering research into atmospheric physics and chemistry. CLIMAT is a 240 kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a ceiling altitude of 33 km. For example, its 2015 flight enabled scientists to…

Photo
20170104_0089
Point météo avant le lancement de la nacelle CLIMAT, à la base d'Alice Springs
20170104_0090
Open media modal

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the CLIMAT flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and tethered balloons, as shown here, in search of the ideal meteorological conditions. The CLIMAT mission (…

Photo
20170104_0090
Identification de la direction du vent à l'aide d'un ballon captif
20170104_0091
Open media modal

Setting up lighting equipment ready for the CLIMAT release at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CLIMAT flight (Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ Measurement of the Atmosphere of Earth) concerns a group of experiments by French and European laboratories aimed at furthering research into atmospheric physics and chemistry. For example, its 2015 flight enabled scientists to identify a 10% increase in methane in columns between 0 km and 15 km between 2000 and…

Photo
20170104_0091
Déplacement des moyens d’éclairage en préparation du lâcher de CLIMAT
20170104_0092
Open media modal

The operational services module in the CARMEN gondola at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. It contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and ballast container. In particular, these gondolas enable the actuation of gas- or…

Photo
20170104_0092
Nacelle de servitudes opérationnelles (NSO) de la nacelle CLIMAT
20170104_0093
Open media modal

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the CLIMAT flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and tethered balloons, as shown here, in search of the ideal meteorological conditions. The CLIMAT mission (…

Photo
20170104_0093
Identification de la direction du vent à l'aide d'un ballon captif
20170104_0094
Open media modal

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the CLIMAT flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and tethered balloons, as shown here, in search of the ideal meteorological conditions. The CLIMAT mission (…

Photo
20170104_0094
Identification de la direction du vent à l'aide d'un ballon captif
20170104_0095
Open media modal

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the CLIMAT flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and tethered balloons, as shown here, in search of the ideal meteorological conditions. The CLIMAT mission (…

Photo
20170104_0095
Identification de la direction du vent à l'aide d'un ballon captif
20170104_0096
Open media modal

The payload launch vehicle retains the CLIMAT flight assembly prior to release at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. The CLIMAT flight (Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ Measurement…

Photo
20170104_0096
Véhicule traîne tendue permettant de retenir la chaîne de vol avant le lâcher de CLIMAT
20170104_0097
Open media modal

Preparing the CARMEN gondola flight assembly at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. The CLIMAT flight (Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ Measurement of the Atmosphere of Earth)…

Photo
20170104_0097
Préparation de la chaîne de vol de la nacelle CLIMAT, sur le site d'Alice Springs
20170104_0098
Open media modal

Preparing the CARMEN gondola flight assembly at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. The CLIMAT flight (Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ Measurement of the Atmosphere of Earth)…

Photo
20170104_0098
Préparation de la chaîne de vol de la nacelle CLIMAT, sur le site d'Alice Springs
20170104_0099
Open media modal

Preparing the CARMEN gondola flight assembly at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. The CLIMAT flight (Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ Measurement of the Atmosphere of Earth)…

Photo
20170104_0099
Préparation de la chaîne de vol de la nacelle CLIMAT, sur le site d'Alice Springs
20170104_0100
Open media modal

Inflating the auxiliary balloon that will lift the CLIMAT gondola pending its flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. CLIMAT is a 240 kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a…

Photo
20170104_0100
Gonflage du ballon auxiliaire pour soulever la nacelle CLIMAT dans l'attente de son vol
20170104_0101
Open media modal

Inflating the auxiliary balloon that will lift the CLIMAT gondola pending its flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. CLIMAT is a 240 kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a…

Photo
20170104_0101
Gonflage du ballon auxiliaire pour soulever la nacelle CLIMAT dans l'attente de son vol
20170104_0102
Open media modal

Inflating the auxiliary balloon that will lift the CLIMAT gondola pending its flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. CLIMAT is a 240 kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a…

Photo
20170104_0102
Gonflage du ballon auxiliaire pour soulever la nacelle CLIMAT dans l'attente de son vol
20170104_0103
Open media modal

Inflating the auxiliary balloon that will lift the CLIMAT gondola pending its flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. CLIMAT is a 240 kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a…

Photo
20170104_0103
Gonflage du ballon auxiliaire pour soulever la nacelle CLIMAT dans l'attente de son vol
20170104_0104
Open media modal

Inflating the auxiliary balloon that will lift the CLIMAT gondola pending its flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. CLIMAT is a 240 kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a…

Photo
20170104_0104
Gonflage du ballon auxiliaire pour soulever la nacelle CLIMAT dans l'attente de son vol
20170104_0105
Open media modal

Inflating the auxiliary balloon that will lift the CLIMAT gondola pending its flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. CLIMAT is a 240 kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a…

Photo
20170104_0105
Gonflage du ballon auxiliaire pour soulever la nacelle CLIMAT dans l'attente de son vol
20170104_0106
Open media modal

Inflating the auxiliary balloon that will lift the CLIMAT gondola pending its flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. CLIMAT is a 240 kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a…

Photo
20170104_0106
Gonflage du ballon auxiliaire pour soulever la nacelle CLIMAT dans l'attente de son vol
20170104_0107
Open media modal

Inflating the auxiliary balloon that will lift the CLIMAT gondola pending its flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. CLIMAT is a 240 kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a…

Photo
20170104_0107
Gonflage du ballon auxiliaire pour soulever la nacelle CLIMAT dans l'attente de son vol
20170104_0108
Open media modal

Inflating the auxiliary balloon that will lift the CLIMAT gondola pending its flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. CLIMAT is a 240 kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a…

Photo
20170104_0108
Gonflage du ballon auxiliaire pour soulever la nacelle CLIMAT dans l'attente de son vol
20170104_0142
Open media modal

Launching a lightweight dilatable sounding balloon in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These small, sealed dilatable balloons are of the same type as used to gather meteorological data (weather balloons). Despite having a limited payload weight, this type of balloon can collect a great deal of useful data via a wide variety of instruments, such as particle counters or ozone meters, which measure the ozone…

Photo
20170104_0142
Lancement d'un ballon léger dilatable (BLD) sur le site d'Alice Springs
20170104_0147
Open media modal

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the CARMEN/CASOLBA flight at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and tethered balloons, as shown here, in search of the ideal meteorological conditions. CARMEN …

Photo
20170104_0147
Identification de la direction du vent à l'aide d'un ballon captif
20170104_0174
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola, seen a few hours before launch, in the hangar at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These…

Photo
20170104_0174
La nacelle PILOT quelques heures avant son lâcher
20170104_0175
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola, seen a few hours before launch, in the hangar at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These…

Photo
20170104_0175
La nacelle PILOT quelques heures avant son lâcher
20170104_0176
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola, seen a few hours before launch, in the hangar at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These…

Photo
20170104_0176
La nacelle PILOT quelques heures avant son lâcher
20170104_0184
Open media modal

Rolling out the PILOT gondola prior to launch, at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0184
Sortie de la nacelle PILOT avant son lancement, à la base d'Alice Springs.
20170104_0185
Open media modal

Rolling out the PILOT gondola prior to launch, at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Photo
20170104_0185
Sortie de la nacelle PILOT avant son lancement, à la base d'Alice Springs.
20170104_0196
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola is attached to the auxiliary balloon prior to release, at the Alice Springs launch facility in Australia. The 800.000 cu. m load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola, which weighs 1,058 kg, to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a…

Photo
20170104_0196
La nacelle PILOT est rattachée au ballon auxiliaire avant son lâcher
20170104_0197
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola is attached to the auxiliary balloon prior to release, at the Alice Springs launch facility in Australia. The 800.000 cu. m load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola, which weighs 1,058 kg, to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a…

Photo
20170104_0197
La nacelle PILOT est rattachée au ballon auxiliaire avant son lâcher
20170104_0201
Open media modal

The stratospheric balloon for the PILOT mission, on the tarmac at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The balloon, which will expand to a volume of 800.000 cu. m, is inflated on the ground until it becomes buoyant. The PILOT astronomical science balloon, designed for use in studying the origins of the universe, aims to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way…

Photo
20170104_0201
Le ballon stratosphérique de la mission PILOT sur le tarmac d'Alice Springs
20170104_0202
Open media modal

The stratospheric balloon for the PILOT mission, on the tarmac at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The balloon, which will expand to a volume of 800.000 cu. m, is inflated on the ground until it becomes buoyant. The PILOT astronomical science balloon, designed for use in studying the origins of the universe, aims to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way…

Photo
20170104_0202
Le ballon stratosphérique de la mission PILOT sur le tarmac d'Alice Springs
20170104_0203
Open media modal

The stratospheric balloon for the PILOT mission, on the tarmac at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The balloon, which will expand to a volume of 800.000 cu. m, is inflated on the ground until it becomes buoyant. The PILOT astronomical science balloon, designed for use in studying the origins of the universe, aims to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way…

Photo
20170104_0203
Le ballon stratosphérique de la mission PILOT sur le tarmac d'Alice Springs
20170104_0204
Open media modal

A truck tows the PILOT gondola, attached to an auxiliary balloon, toward the stratospheric balloon, on the tarmac in Alice Springs, Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has…

Photo
20170104_0204
Camion tractant la nacelle PILOT rattachée au ballon auxiliaire sur le tarmac d'Alice Springs
20170104_0205
Open media modal

A truck tows the PILOT gondola, attached to an auxiliary balloon, toward the stratospheric balloon, on the tarmac in Alice Springs, Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has…

Photo
20170104_0205
Camion tractant la nacelle PILOT rattachée au ballon auxiliaire sur le tarmac d'Alice Springs
20170104_0206
Open media modal

A truck tows the PILOT gondola, attached to an auxiliary balloon, toward the stratospheric balloon, on the tarmac in Alice Springs, Australia. The load-carrying stratospheric balloon, 50 times larger than the auxiliary balloon, will take over and lift the gondola to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. Auxiliary balloons are used to raise delicate equipment off the ground, with the main balloon taking over afterwards. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has…

Photo
20170104_0206
Camion tractant la nacelle PILOT rattachée au ballon auxiliaire, sur le tarmac d'Alice Springs
20170104_0207
Open media modal

The stratospheric balloon for the PILOT mission, on the tarmac at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The balloon, which will expand to a volume of 800.000 cu. m, is inflated on the ground until it becomes buoyant. The PILOT astronomical science balloon, designed for use in studying the origins of the universe, aims to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way…

Photo
20170104_0207
Le ballon stratosphérique de la mission PILOT sur le tarmac d'Alice Springs
20170104_0208
Open media modal

The stratospheric balloon for the PILOT mission, on the tarmac at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. The balloon, which will expand to a volume of 800,000 cu. m, is inflated on the ground until it becomes buoyant. The PILOT astronomical science balloon, designed for use in studying the origins of the universe, aims to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way…

Photo
20170104_0208
Le ballon stratosphérique de la mission PILOT sur le tarmac d'Alice Springs
20170104_0209
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola ascends into the sky above the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The flight, which lasted 33 hours and 40 minutes, took place on 16-17 April 2017. The gondola reached a maximum altitude of 40 km. The purpose of the PILOT mission is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust, in order to gain insights into the origins of the universe. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky…

Photo
20170104_0209
Lâcher de la nacelle PILOT
20170104_0210
Open media modal

The PILOT gondola ascends into the sky above the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Here we see the various components of the flight assembly, including the main balloon, a parachute, a radar reflector and the gondola. The flight, which lasted 33 hours and 40 minutes, took place on 16-17 April 2017. The gondola reached a maximum altitude of 40 km. The purpose of the PILOT mission is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust, in order to gain insights into…

Photo
20170104_0210
Lâcher de la nacelle PILOT

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