+ 1970 News Releases (7.6 Mb PDF file) - NASA

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Ik TIONAL AERONAUTrlCS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
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483-5111 MSC 70-92
August 25, 1970
HOUSTON_ TEXAS--A test flight of a new 38 million cubic foot
balloon system_ designed to carry a 13_800 pound payload to an
altitude of more than 21 miles is scheduled to be launched for the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration from Holtoman Air
Force Base, New Mexico on or about August 26, 1970.
This launch will test a new polyethylene balloon which has been
developed for NASA's project CRISP (Cosmic Ray Ionization Spectrograph
Program).
CRISP is intended to measure cosmic radiation at an altitude of
around 108_000 feet. On November 6_ 1969 a 34 million cubic foot
balloon was launched in this program_ but ended prematurely when the
balloon failed to rise to its assigned altitude because of a separation
in the balloon panels.
This launch is intended to test the new balloon and will carry a
dummy payload. If this launch is successful_ the instruIaented CRISP
payload will be launched in October. The experiment is designed to
provide significant new scientific information about the high energy
cosmic radiation and to develop future scientific experiments which will
have application to manned space missions.
The CRISP balloon and payload will stand nearly 1_0OO feet tall.
After attaining its float altitude_ 108_000 feet_ it will drift westward
and be recovered in Arizona.
The balloon is a two part interconnected system. For launching_
the top balloon will be inflated. As the balloon rises, the gas expands
and is forced into the ml:ch larger main balloon. The expanding helium
flows through a connecting transfer duct which is the collar like ring
which joins both balloons. Nearly 16 acres of plastic fihn go into the
making of the CRISP ball¢on.
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