Purpose of the flight and payload description
The objective of the flight was to measure the energy spectrum of heavy primary nuclei and of both protons and alpha-particles using nuclear emulsions.
The payload consisted of the box shown at left. This box was made of 20 brass plates 3 mm thick and accurately spaced by a brass frame. Below each brass plate a nuclear G-5 emulsion of 100 microns of thickness mounted on a glass plate 4 inches x 6 inches and 1.3 mm thick was inserted.
Great care was taken to insure that the plates were accurately aligned with respect to each other and evenly spaced. Six 250 microns emulsions (G-5, NTB3, C2, NTA) were placed on top of the assembly. The stack was flown with the plates in a horizontal position.
Details of the balloon flight
Balloon launched on: 2/12/1951
Launch site: White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, US
Balloon launched by: General Mills Inc.
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): ~ 8 h
- The Energy Spectrum of Primary Cosmic Radiation Physical Review, vol. 85, Issue 2, pp. 295
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