doi:10.1016/j.asr.2007.05.079
Copyright © 2007 COSPAR Published by Elsevier Ltd.
PEGASO: An ultra light long duration stratospheric payload for polar regions flights
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A. Iaroccib, 
, 
, P. Benedettib, F. Caprarab, A. Cardillod, F. Di Feliceb, G. Di Stefanob, P. Drakøye, R. Ibbaa, M. Marib, S. Masic, I. Mussod, P. Palangiob, S. Peterzena, f, G. Romeob, G. Spinellib, D. Spotoa and G. Urbinib
aItalian Space Agency, Luigi Broglio Launch Facility, ss. 113 n. 174, Contrada Milo, Trapani, Italy
bNational Institute of Geophysics, and Volcanology, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Rome, Italy
cUniversity of Rome La Sapienza, Physics Department, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy
dInstitute of Information Science and Technology, National Research Council, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
eAndøya Rocket Range, Andenes, P.O. Box 54, N-8483 Andenes, Norway
fInternational Science Technology and Research, Pagosa Springs, CO, USA
Received 1 November 2006;
revised 25 May 2007;
accepted 25 May 2007.
Available online 9 June 2007.
Abstract
Stratospheric balloons are powerful and affordable tools for a wide spectrum of scientific investigations that are carried out at the stratosphere level. They are less expensive compared to satellite projects and have the capability to lift payloads from a few kilograms to a couple of tons or more, well above the troposphere, for more than a month. Another interesting feature of these balloons, which is not viable in satellites, is the short turnaround time, which enables frequent flights.
We introduce the PEGASO (Polar Explorer for Geomagnetism And other Scientific Observations) project, a stratospheric payload designed and developed by the INGV (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia), Rome and La Sapienza University, Rome. The project was sponsored by the PNRA (Progetto Nazionale di Ricerche in Antartide), Italy (Peterzen et al., 2003). This light payload (10 kg) was used by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Andoya Rocket Range (ARR) for five different scientific missions.
PEGASO carries a 3-component flux-gate magnetometer, uses a solar cell array as the power source and has a GPS location system. The bi-directional telemetry system for data transfer and the remote control system were IRIDIUM based.
Keywords: LDB; Magnetometer; Polar-areas; Stratosphere
Fig. 1. Anticyclonic circulation, 16 July 2002, 5 mb.
Fig. 2. Arctic Ground Track Trajectory 20 day predictions, 5 mb constant level. Launch date: 12–14 July 2002.
Fig. 3. Trajectories and 5-day predictions. Green trace represents PEGASO B; red trace PEGASO C. Segmented traces represent the trajectories prediction. (For interpretation of references to colours in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
Fig. 4. Root mean square of the prediction error of the three PEGASO missions from Svalbard. The picture is calculated for four simulations each flight.
Fig. 5. Trajectories of PEGASO from Longyearbyen. The track colours are relative to different payloads. Red: PEGASO A; yellow: PEGASO B; cyan: PEGASO C; green: PEGASO E. PEGASO E, launched early in the season, followed a perfect circular trajectory and was terminated in Greenland, accessible for recovery. (For interpretation of references to colours in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
Fig. 6. Trajectory of PEGASO D from Mario Zucchelli Station (Antarctica) 2006.
Fig. 7. The effect of the ballast releasing during the 2006 flight.
Fig. 8. The quick 5-kilometers descent shown in Fig. 7 was compensated by operating four of the ballast tubes. This raised the balloon by 9 km, probably saved the flight and increased the estimated duration of over 9 days.
Fig. 9. PEGASO E temperature panorama. The aluminium vessel keeps the temperature in a reasonable range. Half of the cylinder surface is exposed to the sunlight; the other half is exposed to the empty space. This balances the temperature inside the vessel. The oscillations shown in the diagram are tied to the sun’s elevation.
Fig. 10. PEGASO flight chain. This photograph of PEGASO E shows the complete flight chain. The termination is controlled by the PEGASO electronics by a long electrical wire inside the parachute canopy.
Fig. 11. PEGASO A ready to fly.
Fig. 12. Vessel layout. A pressurized cylinder contains all the electronic parts of PEGASO allowing them to work in comfortable conditions.
Fig. 13. Ground station block diagram. Since an Iridium phone can be accessed from anywhere, the ground station does not need a special place to work. It has been set in the INGV building to use the available resources. The flight control software automatically downloaded data, upgraded the web site and periodically notified the balloon’s position to interested personnel, and issued alarms in case of loss of height or malfunctions.
Fig. 14. A housekeeping data fragment from PEGASO E. PEGASO uses 3 flexible panels folded in a cylindrical shape. Current and temperature are individually monitored. The oscillation is caused by the gondola rotations. Note the temperature diagram follows the current diagram, with a delay caused by the thermal inertia of the panels.
Fig. 15. Rough data of the vertical magnetic field recorded by PEGASO B.
Table 1.
Arctic anticyclone periods that are favourable for LDB flights
Table 2.
PEGASO missions table
Corresponding author.
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