Campaign information MIPAS-B/TELIS & TWIN (2009)
TWIN was launched March 10 from Esrange Space Center at 04:21:40 UTC
The landing was successfully made at 09:37 UTC near Muodoslompolo, Sweden.
MIPAS-B/TELIS was launched March 10 from Esrange Space Center at 23:18 UTC.
The landing was successfully made at 11:19 UTC in Finland.
Read the SSC Esrange Project Manager's report here
The scope of mission is launch and flight operations of two balloon flights with the instruments Mipas-B/Telis and Twin. The flights are performed within the framework of the EuroLaunch co-operation between SSC/Esrange and DLR/Moraba. The objective is to obtain measurements of stratospheric trace gases within the arctic stratospheric polar vortex as part of continuing research into ozone destruction.
MIPAS-B/TELIS
The MIPAS (Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding) instrument is one of the major instruments onboard the European satellite ENVISAT and the MIPAS-B instrument is the modified version dedicated for stratospheric balloon flights.
The balloonborne MIPAS is an advanced Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectrometer specially tailored to the operation on a stratospheric balloon gondola. Equipped with suitable subsystems, MIPAS-B allows precise limb emission sounding of chemical constituents related to the stratospheric ozone problem and to the greenhouse effect. It has flown since 1995 and this flight will be the 16th. The responsible scientific team for MIPAS is from FZK-IMK Karlsruhe Germany.
The TELIS (TeraHertz Limb Sounder) instrument is a new sub mm-wave limb sounder.
This will be the second balloon flight for TELIS. TELIS is the planned successor of the THOMAS heterodyne instrument which has successfully been operated on DLR's FALCON research aircraft in recent years. In contrast to THOMAS, TELIS will be operated on the stratospheric balloon gondola together with the MIPAS-B. The TELIS responsible team is DLR-IMF Wessling Germany with support from SRON in the Netherlands and RAL in UK.
TWIN
TWIN consists of an in-situ cryosampler consisting of 15 individual collectors. The instrument is operated by the University of Frankfurt. It also has the HALOX-B chemical conversion fluorescence detector measuring ClO/BrO developed and operated by the Forschungszentrum Jühlich, and the pico-SDLA tunable diode laser water vapor instrument operated by CNRS.
Mini-DOAS and UV Photometer: These instruments will be added to the MIPAS-B/TELIS and TWIN gondolas as piggybacks. Mini-DOAS is a differential optical absorption spectrometer. The UV photometer will determine scattered solar UV radiation in the stratosphere.
The TWIN web site (in German)
Mission Profile:
The flight(s) will be conventional with the entire operation taking place within line of sight of Esrange. The balloons will be Zodiak (French built) models between 150 000 and 400 000 m3. Payloads will range from 400 to 800 kg with desired float altitudes of 30 to 35 km. Desired float times are as long as possible within the polar vortex with a minimum time of 5 hours at altitude. Launches must take place on days when the polar vortex is directly over Esrange.
Contact persons:
Mr Ola Widell, SSC Esrange, Project manager
Mr Anders Nyström, SSC Esrange, dep Project manager
Prof. Hermann Oelhaf, Forschungs Zentrum Karlsruhe, Project manager
Dr Andreas Engel, University Frankfurt, Project manager