Evaluation of results

We were working hard on evaluation of results gained during the baloon´s flight. We already knew that our experiment was successful during the flight because we had real-time data broadcasting.

We were taking cosmic rays tracks in 5s fixed time period, therefore we got 3000 images. We can accurately demonstrate changes in cosmic rays´ intensity with different altitude from GPS data. We were also trying to calibrate our data with the Neutron monitoring program in Oulu, Finland. We have already handed in the final report of the whole experiment to ESA and are working on data publication...our experiment is finishing, but...

Some of us are already working on another one (CRIndIons)!!! Stratosphere, see you soon again...!

LAUNCH CAMPAIGN, Esrange, Kiruna

3.-11.10.2008

Our team took part in Launch Campaign in Esrange (Kiruna, Sweden). On Wednesday 8th October in the afternoon (15:37 LT) our experiment was launched on a balloon Bexus 7 and landed at 19:30 at Finnish border. It was found on Thursday 9th and returned back to Esrange the day after. Flight was more than successful! We gained except demanded data also nice broadcast of our camera mounted on the gondola which was poiting up towards baloon so we saw how the balloon was getting bigger and bigger. Here you can see the most dramatic moments :

Taking data on a computer...

To see more photos&also some videos from this week, click here.
To read more about the campaign and the launch day.

ECRS Košíce & IAC Glasgow 2008

Our project was presented at 21^st European Cosmic Ray Symposium in Košice, Slovakia and the poster from this conference was also exhibited in Czech Space Office kiosk during 59th International Astronautical Congress in Glasgow, Scotland.

FIRST RECORDS

14.9.2008

During a flight when our device was transported to Kiruna, we keep MediPix detector on to see if it is able to register Cosmic Rays. We are then providing some data records...

PROJECT STATUS II

Our final CDR is already completed and we are just working on pre-flight SED, adjusting the lay-out of your device and discussing proper attachment to gondola.

During summer holidays we have been carefully working on building and testing individual components and also the device as a whole system.

VACUUM TESTING OF ALL SUBSYSTEMS

We tested separately all subsystems in vacuum conditions lower than expected (5Pa) and the whole system also for over 3 hours. Important components (MedipiX and computer hardware) were tested in vacuum chamber with cryogenics exchanger. The whole experiment was running and taking data in freezer -35°C environment for over 6 hours, just running on the batteries.

COMPLETE FREEZER TEST

TESTING OF TimePix FOR OPERATION IN VACUUM, HERE ADDITIONALLY COOLED

THE WHOLE SYSTEM

Experiment mass ~ 3 kg
Dimensions :
main box 30 x 20 x 15 cm
TimePiX plastic enclosure 10 x 4 x 6 cm

DURING ASSEMBLATION

CDR Review (ESTEC, The Netherlands)

30.6.-1.7.2008

At the end of June 2008 two members of our team were invited to take part in CDR review of the project. By this occassion they presented current status of our experiment and solved some issues that came up after The Training Week.

The main question involved the sealing . After consulting this issue with experts we dropped the idea of hermetically-sealed box and became aware that it would be easier just to adjust the electronics to be functional also in vacuum.

After the presentation on 30th July they also had some time to explore the surroundings of ESA centre...