Campaign information Capanina (2005) The overall objective of the CAPANINA project is to develop a broadband wireless communications capability, at speeds up to 120 Mbit/s, from High Altitude Platforms to stationary users on the ground and to users on moving vehicles at speeds up to 300 km/h. The ultimate aim is to have a number of the platforms in the stratosphere at altitudes of around 20 km with one platform serving a region of approximately 60 km. The CAPANINA balloon campaign is intended to be part of a test process for the validation of technological aspects within a research project, included in the Sixth Framework Programme, founded by the European Community. The opening flight The opening flight aims to verify all technical systems used during a balloon launch, flight and recovery. On 29 June the 5000 m3 sratospheric balloon was successfully launched with the new launch vehicle Hercules. The balloon reached an altitude of 27 km andthe campaign aim was to verify all the technical system and also validate a new technique for turning the payload just before landing. During the flight there cameras onboard the payload observed the payload behavior just before it touched the ground. The landing took place south of the village of Nikkaluokta. The launch on 30 August 2005 The launch of  a 12 000 m3 stratospheric balloon took place in the early morning  on 31 August. The balloon was launched by dynamic release technic using the large vehicle Hercules (picture to the left). The balloon carried a gondola with a high speed radio link for broadband transmission and an optical system using lasers that reached a coverage area of 60 km in radium. The balloon reached an altitude of 24,7 km before the cut down command was given after 9 hours. The landing took place as planned near the village of Junosuando in the North part of Sweden.

The scientific objective The scientific objective is to validate some aspects of the studied systems, aimed to provide broadband communication services to ground users, by means of aerial platforms to be located in the low stratosphere. Specifically the CAPANINA balloon campaign is the second step of a validating process, started on summer 2004 at Pershore, UK with low altitude tests, by means of tethered balloon. A further third step is foreseen for the test campaign, based likely on the Pathfinder Plus aircraft, to be flown within 2006. The specific aim of the test is to validate communication links between two payloads (Ka-band antenna and Free Space Optics laser system) onboard the aerial system, carried at 20km altitude, and two relevant ground stations. Participating organizations The CAPANINA balloon campaign will be coordinated by Carlo Gavazzi Space SpA (CGS), on the ‘user’ side, and by Esrange, on the ‘provider’ side. The two experiments, taking advantage of the flight, will be operated by the University of York (UOY), for the RF system, and German Aerospace Centre (DLR), for the FSO system. Specifically, the following key persons will be in charge of different activities: • Mr. Marco Bobbio Pallavicini (CGS), responsible for the campaign, on the ‘user’ side • Mr. Myles Capstik (UOY), responsible for the RF experiment • Mr. Joachim Horwath (DLR), responsible for the FSO experiment • Mr. Olle Persson (Esrange), responsible for the campaign within Esrange The balloon campaign will serve two experiments: • Experiment A (RF communication system) – Prototypal system, ground node and aerial node for communication in Ka- band • Experiment B (FSO communication system) – Prototypal system, ground node and aerial node for free-space laser communication Balloon launch conditions • Clear sky with good visibility (for FSO operation). • High altitude winds allowing at least 6 hours of operations, with the permanence of the Balloon at a distance <60km from the installation of the two ground stations • Liftoff at early morning, according to requirements on maximum sun elevation, dictated by the FSO system (TBC) • Ground wind less than TBD m/s • No precipitation during ground preparation

Contact persons:
Mr O. Persson, Campaign manager, SSC Esrange
Mr M. Bobbio Pallavicini, Project manager, CGS