Longueuil, Quebec, September 13, 2013 – Following the latest weather briefing, the go-ahead has been given for a midnight EDT launch today. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the French space agency, the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), are ready to launch the second and biggest stratospheric balloon of their Stratos Balloon Program. The balloon is 800,000 m3 and nearly 324 metres in length—equal to the height of the Eiffel Tower
This second test flight has two Canadian payloads aboard. Canadian firm DPL Science Inc. will test a generic power subsystem that could potentially be used in subsequent balloon campaigns and onboard satellites. Canadian firm Xiphos will test a payload consisting of a new miniaturized data-processing card technology. Xiphos hopes to certify this technology for use in future space missions.
When launched, the balloon will ascend to between 25 and 32 km, will fly for about four to ten hours, and should land in a 500 km radius area from the launch site. If the wind blows east, it could land close to Rouyn-Noranda, Amos or Val d'Or. If it blows west, it could land close to Wawa, Kapuskasing, Chapleau or Sudbury. A recovery team will be sent to the landing site to pick up the balloon envelope and the flight chain.
Media representatives are invited on-site to view the launch. Spokespeople from the CSA, CNES and Timmins Victor M. Power Airport will be available for interviews.
Instructions for media on-site (media need to enter via the airport entrance):
* The date and time may change without advance notice.
- 30 -
