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2003-2004 USAP
Field Season
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Aeronomy & Astrophysics
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Dr. Vladimir Papitashvili
Program Manager
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A-144-E/M
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NSF/OPP
ATM 02-33370
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Station:
E/M
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RPSC POC:
Curt LaBombard
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Research Site(s):
McMurdo Station, Williams Field
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Dates in Antarctica:
Late November to early January
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Development and test flight of a small, automated balloon payload for observations of terrestrial x-rays
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MAXIS balloon payload ascending from McMurdo: January 12, 2000. The MINIS balloon program is a an extension of the MAXIS science, using smaller, hand-launched balloons with a smaller but better-targeted suite of instrumentation for discovering the cause
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Deploying Team Members:
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Edgar A. Bering, III
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Leeland Huss
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MIchael Kokorowski
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Robyn Millan
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Brandon Reddell
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John Sample
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David M. Smith
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Research Objectives:
We plan to develop and test a balloon payload designed to detect mega electron volt (MeV) electron precipitation into the atmosphere from the Earth’s radiation belts. Relativistic electron precipitation has been found to occur at high latitudes, but it is not known how common such events are, nor is much known about the conditions that lead to these events. These particles endanger astronauts and unmanned satellites, but neither the cause of their energization nor the cause of their loss (precipitation) is well understood. The precipitation of the highest energy electrons occurs in rare, rapid events that we will study with a balloon payload.
The instrument we will develop will be very small and lightweight, and it will include real-time data communications via the Iridium satellite system. This new technology will allow a payload that can be launched on small balloons as well as on long-duration balloons.
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