Accession Number:
ADA043300
Title:
Miniature Meteorological Balloonsonde.
Descriptive Note:
Final summary rept. 30 Jun 76-1 Feb 77,
Corporate Author:
HONEYWELL INC HOPKINS MINN DEFENSE SYSTEMS DIV
Personal Author(s):
Report Date:
1977-06-30
Pagination or Media Count:
132.0
Abstract:
The purpose of this program was to demonstrate that it is possible to build a light-weight miniature meteorological sonde minisonde which can be borne aloft by a 30-gram latex balloon. During this program, 85-gram minisondes were built and successfully launched with 30-gram balloons. The program was broken down into two parts- the assembly of five minisondes and the launchingdata reduction for these minisondes. The construction of a small, light-weight minisonde requires that new miniature sensors and high-efficiency electronics be used. For temperature measurements, the standard rod thermistor was selected. For humidity measurement, the conventional VIZ carbon hygristor was used. For pressure measurement, a Honeywell silicon diaphragm barometer was used. To commutate between the temperature, pressure, and humidity sensors and encode the meteorological data measurements, a set of meteorological electronics was developed using commerically available integrated circuits. A special light-weight telemetry transmitter providing an output of 12 watt at 400 to 406 megahertz was designed and constructed. Power for the transmitter and minisonde electronics was provided by a small flat disc battery using lithium electrochemical technology. Three minisondes were launched using 30-gram latex balloons and rose to an altitude of greater than 15,000 feet at a rise rate of approximately 600 feet per minute. During the flight, temperature, pressure, and humidity data were successfully telemetered back to an FM receiver located on the ground. Author
Descriptors:
Subject Categories:
- Meteorology
- Telemetry