NSSDCA ID: 1984-128F-01
Mission Name: Vega 2 BalloonThe Vega balloon meteorology experiment consisted of pressure, light, and temperature sensors and a vertical wind anemometer held in the gondola suspended beneath the balloon. The pressure sensor was mounted in the middle section of the balloon and sampled the atmosphere through a port. The resonance frequency of a vibrating quartz beam connected to the frequency supply circuit of an oscillator was measured. The frequency was a function of the mechanical stress imposed by the atmospheric pressure. The absolute accuracy of the pressure sensor was ~0.5 mbar, with ~0.2 mbar resolution over the full dynamic range of 0-2 bar. The light detector was also mounted in the middle section of the gondola. It consisted of a silicon PIN diode facing downward to receive radiation, both ambient illumination and any lightning flashes, within a 120 degree cone. The detector was sensitive to radiation in the wavelength range 400 to 1100 nm. Temperature sensors were mounted on a deployable boom which was extended horizontally after the gondola was lowered. The sensors were metal-film resistance thermometers inscribed on a dielectric substrate. The absolute accuracy was 0.5 K and the resolution was 0.1 K from 263-353 K. The anemometer consisted of two 4-blade propellers mounted on a ball-bearing rotor suspended at the end of a boom 24 cm from the gondola. The rotor axis was along the nominally vertical gondola axis to measure vertical flows. The revolution count and direction were measured by two pairs of light-emitting and photo diodes separated by a rotating disk with apertures. The pressure, temperature and vertical wind sensors were interrogated every 75 seconds, the light sensor every 10 minutes.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. David R. Williams
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Prof. Jacques E. Blamont | Team Leader | Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales | |
Dr. Viacheslav Linkin | Team Leader | Russian Academy of Sciences | vlinkin@vm1.iki.rssi.ru |