10 ballon flights to to be launched for scientific purpose

22 February, Hyderabad

B Suneel Kumar, Scientistincharge, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Union Government today informed that 10-balloon flights will be launched from Hyderabad, for scientific purpose, during the period up to May 31, under the auspices of the Department of Atomic Energy and ISRO.

In a statement here, Mr Suneel Kumar said the first balloon filled with Hydrogen gas, carrying Scientific instruments will be launched from Ballon Facility of TATA Institute of Fundamental Research, ECIL here on February third week.

The balloons are made of twin (Polyethylene) plastic films, ranging in diameters from 50 mtrs to 85 mtrs and normally launched between 8.00hrs to 6.00 hrs at night.

The balloons, which carry up scientific instruments for research at high attitudes, are expected to reach heights between 30 km and 42 km depending upon the experiments being undertaken. The instruments will be kept at these heights for periods ranging from a few to 10 hours and then they will be released from the balloon.

After release, the instruments will come down to ground on large coloured parachutes. During ascent and at ceiling, the balloons will drift in the prevailing winds and the instruments, may, therefore, land at points as distant as about 200 to 350 kms from Hyderabad. The balloon drifts will be on the Vishakapatnam-Hyderabad-Sholapur line, in the areas of AP, North Karnataka and Maharashtra States.