The French balloon program 2012 - 2015

摘要

With more than 50 years' experience in the field, The French Space Agency, CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) goes on supporting a significant scientific ballooning program. In particular so because balloons give a unique and cost effective access to near space science. Recently, most of the systems had to be improved or renewed to comply with more stringent Safety requirements and to growing performance and reliability requirements from the scientific users. The upgrade of ground and flight infrastructures began by the zero pressure balloon systems (BSO), and will soon be implemented on long duration aerostats. This paper gives an overview of the CNES new capabilities and services for operational balloon activities, and their qualification status. A focus will be made on the results of the maiden flights, in 2013, from Timmins, Ontario, of the NOSYCA command and control system for zero pressure balloons. An outlook of the new stratospheric long duration flight systems and related missions studied at CNES will be given. The scientific launch campaigns of the last two years and the prospects for the near future will also be presented.