Southern Hemisphere GHOST Test Program Status Report 12 November 1968 to 28 February 1969
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r r Southern Hemisphere GHOST Test Program Status Report 12 November 1968 to 28 February 1969 Flights - from Christchurch Flight 165031/6 U/FAGKYD was launchedL140 UTat on ! 14 November Flight166405 CV waslaunchedat 1725 UT on21 November 1968. Flight167406 DL waslaunched1732 at UT on26 November 1968. Flight 168401AP was launched at 1733 UT on 26 November 1968. Flight169404 WWW was launchedat 2133 UT on28 November 1968. Flight 170401BBB waslaunchedat 1734 UT on 1 December 1968. Flight 171404XXX waslaunched1735 at UT on1 December 1968. Flight 172406CCC waslaunched1733 at UT on 8 December 1968. Flight173403 JR was launched1734 at UT on8 December 1968. Flight174403 WV waslaunched1711 at UT on 9 December 1968. Flight175401 YYY was launchedat 1713 UT on 9 December 1968. Flight 176803N DH U wasi launched: 1230at UT on 10 December 1968. Flight177405 QU was launchedat 1728 UT on19 December 1968. Flight 178402NK was launched at 1729on UT19 December 1968. Flight179805 GN waslaunched at 1748UT on2 January 1969. Flight180805 NV was launched atUT 1730on10 January 1969. Flight 181806CK was launched1729 at UT on16 January 1969. Flight 182802BG waslaunchedat 1743 UT on24 January 1969. Flight183807 BW was launched1806 at UT on4 February 1969. Flight184806 FR was launched1730 at UT on 6 February 1969. Flight185801 PU waslaunched1748 at UT on17 February 1969. Flight186803 DR was launched1810 at UT on18 February 1969. Flights - from Ascension Island Flight 07031/5 ER/lD was launched at 0655 UT on 10 January 1969. Flight 08035 EG was launched at 1720 UT on 15 January 1969. Flight 09037/4 EA/C was launched at 0711 UT on 17 January 1969. Flight 10032/9 EU/S was launched at 0647 UT on 21 January 1969. Flight 11056/3 EN/M was launched at 0717 UT on 22 January 1969. Flight 12057/2 EW/DZFJAL was launched at 0654 on 24 January 1969. Flight 13054/2 EM/Y was launched at 0649 UT on 27 January 1969. Flight 14055/2 ED/IN was launched at 0657 UT on 28 January 1969. Flight 15053/7 EK/lR was launched at 0658 UT on 29 January 1969. The following balloons are presumed still flying as of 28 February 1969: 130101 XZ -- 314 days 162033/6 DP -- 129 days 163036/2 AV -- 123 days 07031/5 ER/ID -- 50 days 09037/4 EA/C -- 43 days 10032/9 EU/S -- 39 days 11056/3 EN/M -- 38 days 12057/2 EW/DZFJAL -- 36 days 13054/2 EM/Y --33 days 15053/7 EK/IR -- 31 days r Page Two Flight Status - 30 Millibars Four flights were made from Christchurch in November 1968 to test new techniques for achieving a slow ascent rate into altitude. Two of the balloons, of double-walled construction with a Saran inner balloon, failed. Subsequent tests revealed a basic design fault in the load attachment which tore the balloon as the balloon filled out. The other two balloons (162033/6 DP and 163036/2 AV) are still flying after four months. Four flights were made from Ascension Island at 30 millibars in January 1969. One balloon burst as it filled out due to the same faulty attachment. The remaining balloons with a modified load attachment are flying well after six weeks, maintaining their trajectories close to the Equator. Flight Status - 50 Millibars Five flights were made from Ascension Island at 50 millibars in January 1969. One balloon flew for nine days. The remainder are still flying and maintaining a trajectory close to the Equator. Flight Status - 100 Millibars Flight 98104 QQQ was last heard on 12 December 1968 on its 441st flight day. Flight 130101 XZ, flying at a constant density altitude equivalent to 143 millibars, is still flying and holding pressure after 314 days. Flight Status - 200 Millibars All 200 millibar flights launched in June and October 1968 are now down. Ten flights were made in June 1968 with aluminized cap balloons. Two balloons suffered electronic failures after one month of flight. Longest flight duration (148203 GGG) was 240 days. Shortest flight was 40 days. Average duration for the eight flights was 151 days. Median duration was 174 days. In October 1968 six flights were made with balloons which had been fabricated to test new materials. The balloons were designed for handling, packing and shipping tests. All were underdesigned for flight. Two bal loons with aluminized caps flew for 126 and 121 days. All balloons failed in a period between 20 January and 12 February 1969. Flight durations for the uncapped balloons were 97, 106, 110 and 118 days. Flight Status - 400 Millibars Twelve flights were made at 400 millibars between 21 November and Page Three 19 December1968. Five pairs of balloons were flown - an aluminized-cap balloon with147o free lift and an uncapped balloon18% free with lift. Test results are tabulated below: Flight Duration Capped Uncapped Flight No. Balloon Balloon 166 68 days - 167-168 3 days 18 days 169 - 12 days 170-171 8 days 59 days 172-173 4 days 4 days 174-175 5 days 4 days 177-178 29 days 24 days Average 19.5 days 20 days Flight Status - 800 Millibars Nine flights were made at 800 millibars during the period from 10 December 1968 to 19 February 1969. Balloons used were waxed cylinders, 1 meter in diameter and 8 meters long. Average flight duration has been five days. Analysis of flight data is now underway to determine the primary failure mechanism. At least three balloons came back over New Zealand after starting to the East. Plans Requests for a number of tropical flights at 925 millibars and 200 millibars are now in process. Planned flight locations are Johnston Island at 925 millibars and Ascension Island at 200 millibars. Seven flights will be made from Christchurch during March at 400 millibars Tests will be conducted of the new high frequency direction finding station recently installed at Christchurch. Flights at 800 millibars will not be renewed until completion of ground tests of the adequacy of the water-shedding coating on the cylinder balloons. Seven flights will be made from Ascension Island in July or August at 30 and 50 millibars. Two cannibal-loon flights are tentatively1969. scheduled for May .