• 12.000 m³ Balloon (Zodiac 12SF balloon filled with helium gas)
• Valve Cutter
• Parachute
• Esrange Balloon Service System (EBASS)
• Flight Train
• Argos GPS and ATC Transponder (AGT)
• Strobe Light
• Radar Reflector
• Gondola

Configuration

The total length of this system is up to 75 m. There is one primary size of experiment gondola available for the BEXUS programme. Medium Esrange gondola (M-Egon) is a medium-sized gondola with dimensions of 1.16 m x 1.16 m x 0.84 m. It is designed to carry experiment loads up to 100 kg. It is possible to cover the sides of the gondola with heavy-duty canvas material and/or to cover the top of the gondola with heavy duty canvas material or aluminium sheeting.

Flight

Experiments are lifted by this system to an altitude of 25-35 km. When the total mass of the system and the buoyancy of the gas reaches equilibrium the ascent phase stops and the balloon floats in the stratosphere. After a flight duration of 2 to 5 hours the payload gondola is cut down from the balloon and recovered with a parachute system. The gondola will be picked up by a helicopter. The payload is normally brought back to ESRANGE within a day or two after launch.

Conditions

The environmental conditions of the balloon flight are temperatures as low as -70 °C and an air pressure of 10 mbar.

The temperature during the transport to the launch pad and after landing can be -20 °C with an exposure time of up to several hours at launch and typically one to two days after landing. 

Interfaces

Experiments are connected to the gondola by a mechanical rail system but also other mounting options are provided. 

On board batteries are provided to the experiments (nominal 28V/1A) per experiment.

Ethernet connection is supported by the on board E-Link system during the flight .

Download the BEXUS Manual for detailed information.