Southern Hemisphere GHOST Test Program Status Report 1 May to 21 August 1967
Flights
Flights were resumed on 16 August 1967 from the launch station at Christchurch, New Zealand.
Flight 92206 XXX was launched at 2023 UT on 16 August 1967. It is flying well.
Flight 93205 ZZZ was launched at 2043 UT on 17 August 1967. It is flying well.
Flight Status
300 Millibars
Flight 85307 WKRD was last heard on 30 April 1967 on its 51st day. It moved into the Antarctic night on 1 May and has not been heard since.
200 Millibars
Flight 79202 RRR was last heard on 26 May 1967 on its 100th day.
Flights 60203 TA and 70201 KKK are still flying.
30 Millibars
Flight 86025 CCC was last heard on 6 July 1967 on its 116th day.
Flight 87023 JJJ - 87025 PPP was last heard of 3 May 1967 on its 49th day38°W at and 57°S.
Flight 90026 000 - 90027 AAA was last heard13 April on 1967 on its 30th day20°W at and 62°S.
Flight 91022 DDD was last heard on 5 May 1967 on its 41st day 10°E at a n d 56°S.
It is assumed that Flights 87, 90 and 91 entered the Antarctic night. ( (
The following balloons are still flying on 21 August 1967:
60203 TA - 280 days 70201 KKK - 216 days 92206 XXX - 5 days 93205 ZZZ - 4 days
Flight Plans
During August, September and October 1967, twenty flights will be made at 100 millibars.
Six flights are planned in November and December at 300 millibars using balloons with metallized caps to increase nighttime balloon temperature.
From November to March ten flights are planned for 700 millibars and twenty flights at 900 millibars using cylinder and ellipsoid balloons provided authorization is obtained for low altitude flights.
From January to June 1968 flights of the "Cannibal-loon" and other systems to overcome icing will be made at altitudes from 500 to 300 millibars.
A number of flights will be made at 10 millibars as soon as the large (twenty-meter diameter) balloons required are tes ted.
Summary of First Year's Flights
Copies of NCAR-TN-28, Superpressure Balloons for Horizontal Soundings of the Atmosphere, have been distributed to all who receive these status reports. This volume includes a summary of flights 01 through 91. If you wish additional copies, write to Facilities Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Box 1470, Boulder, Colorado 80302.