Advanced experiment of sonic booms
JAXA and SSC team.
Launch of the second experiment.
On its way up.
Photo © JAXA.. For high resolution press images click here.
An advanced balloon borne experiment of sonic booms SSC has developed and conducted an advanced stratospheric balloon experiment to measure sonic booms on behalf of the Japanese space organization JAXA. The experiment was performed during two balloon flights with a first flight on May 7 and the second on May 16.
- We are very pleased to announce that two successful drop tests were performed within a four weeks window, says Dr. Kenji Yoshida, Project Manager of D-SEND Project Team. SSCs cooperation made everything possible and from a quick data review we appear to have good data.
- We are happy to state that the performance of these complicated tests went according to plan, says Mr. Mikael Toyra, Project Manager at Esrange Space Center. Each gondola released two heavy drop models in quick succession, making SSC the first to drop such heavy objects from a single balloon in sequence.
The experiment The D-SEND#1 experiment demonstrates a reduced sonic boom for aircraft with a non- conventional shape by releasing drop models from a high altitude (20-30 km) so that they reach supersonic speeds and produce sonic booms. The drop models include electronics that measure their motion, while a microphone system at lower altitudes (0-1 km) records the sonic booms.
SSC engineering SSCs engineers have developed the balloon gondola and four drop models according to JAXAs specifications. Three of the drop bodies were equipped with an inertial measurement system and onboard telemetry system that downlinked real time data to the customer. JAXA used their own developed recording system on ground with microphones in the field.
The two drop tests were performed from Esrange Space Center, SSCs operational base for launch services.
Read more The press release from the first test The SSC D-SEND-1 campaign site The JAXA D-SEND-1 campaign site
For further information please contact Mr. Mikael Toyra, Project Manager at Esrange Space Center SSC Phone: +46 980 721 33 or +46 70 636 21 33 E-mail: mikael.toyra@sscspace.com
Dr. Kenji Yoshida, Project Manager of D-SEND Project Team JAXA Phone: +81 50 3362 4858 E-mail: yoshida.kenji@jaxa.jp
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