During the last four days two large scientific balloon gondolas and two rockets have been launched from Swedish Space Corporation's (SSC) facility Esrange Space Center. A fifth launch, a student rocket with the aim to break an altitude record for amateur rocketry, is scheduled for Monday.
The two balloon projects
The scientific objective of the two balloon flights was to obtain measurements of stratospheric trace gases within the arctic stratospheric polar vortex. This as part of continuing research of ozone destruction and satellite validation. The two balloon campaigns were called TWIN and MIPAS B/TELIS.
The two student rocket projects
The two rockets launched this week were part of a student programme called Rexus (Rocket Experiments for University Students). The rockets carried five scientific student experiments onboard. The Rexus programme is an annual sounding rocket program launched from the Esrange Space Center.
The record rocket Stratos
A team of 15 students from the Technical University in Delft, Holland, has developed a new amateur rocket with the aim to break the present European altitude record of 10.7 km held by the British amateur rocket society MARS.
2009 will be a busy year at Esrange Space Center. At least 17 balloon launches and four rocket launches remain this year.
