Pointing system for the balloon-borne astronomical payloads

Nirmal, K.; Sreejith, A. G.; Mathew, Joice; Sarpotdar, Mayuresh; Suresh, Akkihebbal K.; Prakash, Ajin; Safonova, Margarita; Murthy, Jayant

doi:10.1117/1.jatis.2.4.047001

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Regarding the horizontal wind speed, V , shown in Figure 8 , the results show quite large values beyond the tropopause (located at around 12 km altitude), according to the data and the wind description from [ 33 , 47 , 48 ]. The 3-min (3-min.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 76%

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Measuring Relative Wind Speeds in Stratospheric Balloons with Cup Anemometers: The TASEC-Lab Mission

Alfonso-Corcuera

Ogueta-Gutiérrez

Fernández-Soler

et al. 2022

Sensors

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This paper shows wind speed measurements from the TASEC-Lab experiment in a stratospheric balloon mission. The mission was launched in July 2021 from León (Spain) aerodrome. Measurements of horizontal wind speed in relation to the balloon gondola were successfully carried out with a cup anemometer. According to the available literature, this is the first time a cup anemometer has been used in a stratospheric balloon mission. The results indicate the need to consider the horizontal wind speed from the balloon ascent phase for thermal calculations of the mission.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…This constant rotation rate is approximately confirmed by the frequency graph. However, this variable shows a great scatter, indicating quite large variations of the rotation rate caused by turbulence or oscillations of the gondola [ 33 , 47 , 48 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring Relative Wind Speeds in Stratospheric Balloons with Cup Anemometers: The TASEC-Lab Mission

Alfonso-Corcuera

Ogueta-Gutiérrez

Fernández-Soler

et al. 2022

Sensors

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“…We have developed the pointing and stabilization system for the balloon-born astronomical payloads (Nirmal et al, 2016), and the instrument will be mounted on this pointing platform for observations .…”

Section: High-altitude Balloon Platformmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wide-field ultraviolet imager for astronomical transient studies

et al. 2018

Self Cite

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Though the ultraviolet (UV) domain plays a vital role in the studies of astronomical transient events, the UV time-domain sky remains largely unexplored. We have designed a wide-field UV imager that can be flown on a range of available platforms, such as high-altitude balloons, CubeSats, and larger space missions. The major scientific goals are the variability of astronomical sources, detection of transients such as supernovae, novae, tidal disruption events, and characterizing AGN variability. The instrument has a 80 mm aperture with a circular field of view of 10.8 degrees, an angular resolution of ∼22 arcsec, and a 240-− 390 nm spectral observation window. The detector for the instrument is a Microchannel Plate (MCP)-based image intensifier with both photon counting and integration capabilities. An FPGA-based detector readout mechanism and real time data processing have been implemented. The imager is designed in such a way that its lightweight and compact nature are well fitted for the CubeSat dimensions. Here we present various design and developmental aspects of this UV wide-field transient explorer.

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“…To address this, researchers such as [42] have attempted to create lower cost variants [42]. In the US, a student team from the Colorado Space Grant Consortium developed the High Elevation Light Intensity Observation System (HELIOS) that carried an Orion Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope, a Hydrogen-Alpha filter, a focus reducer, and an Image Source camera [43].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SunbYte: an autonomous pointing framework for low-cost robotic solar telescopes on high altitude balloons

Cho,

Heung,

Bobrov

et al. 2024

Exp Astron

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The design and usability of a fully autonomous robotic control system (SunbYte - Sheffield University Balloon “lYfted” TElescope) for solar tracking and observational applications onboard high-altitude balloons are addressed here. The design is based on a six-step development plan balancing scientific objectives and practical engineering requirements. The high-altitude solar observational system includes low-cost components such as a Cassegrain-type telescope, stepper motors, harmonic drives, USB cameras and microprocessors. OpenCV installed from ROS (Robotic Operating System), python and C facilitated the collection, compression, and processing of housekeeping and scientific data. This processed data was then transmitted to the ground station through the launch vehicle’s telecommunication link. The SunbYte system allows the brightest spot in the sky, the sun, to be identified, and a telescope pointed towards it with high enough accuracy that a scientific camera can capture images. This paper gathers and presents the results from primarily two missions with the High-Altitude Student Platform (HASP, NASA Balloon Program office and LaSpace). Additionally, a discussion will be made comparing these with an earlier iteration flown with the German-Swedish “REXUS/BEXUS” programme coordinated by the European Space Agency. By capturing and analysing a series of tracking images with the location of the Sun at the calibrated centre, the system demonstrated the tracking capabilities on an unstable balloon during ascent. Housekeeping sensor data was collected to further analyse the thermal and mechanical performance. The low temperature increased friction in the drive train and reduced the responsiveness of the harmonic drive actuation system. This caused some issues which require further work in future missions, for example, with SunbYte 4 and its work when flying with the HEMERA ZPB (Zero Pressure Balloon) program.

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Pointing system for the balloon-borne astronomical payloads

Cited by 8 publications

References 11 publications

Measuring Relative Wind Speeds in Stratospheric Balloons with Cup Anemometers: The TASEC-Lab Mission

Measuring Relative Wind Speeds in Stratospheric Balloons with Cup Anemometers: The TASEC-Lab Mission

Wide-field ultraviolet imager for astronomical transient studies

SunbYte: an autonomous pointing framework for low-cost robotic solar telescopes on high altitude balloons

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