Payload 12 Information
Payload Flight Number:
Institution:
Payload Title:
Correlation Of Atmospheric Terrestrial gamma flashes and Lightning (COATL)
Student Leader:
Faculty Advisor:
Payload class:
LARGE
Payload ID Number:
12
Mass:
5.4kg
Current:
1396mA
Serial Downlink:
YES
Analog Downlink:
NO
Serial Commands:
YES
Discrete Commands:
NO
Payload Specification & Integration Plan
Due:
Delivered:
Payload Integration Certification
Scheduled:
Actual:
Flight Operation Plan
Due:
Delivered:
Final Flight / Science Report
Due:
Delivered:
Abstract:
High energy gamma ray flashes from terrestrial sources have been observed by NASA satellites for decades, but the actual mechanism, assumed to be thunderstorm lightning, has yet to be fully characterized. In order to determine how TGF emissions are related to lightning, conditions within thunderstorms that might lead to TGF emissions must be characterized. This can be accomplished by using a small network of balloon-borne payloads suspended in and around thunderstorms that would detect, timestamp and measure the intensity of localized electric fields, gamma radiation bursts, and lightning strikes. The goal of COATL is to test the effectiveness and performance of the before mentioned payloads in a high altitude environment. In order to simulate a network of multiple payloads in flight, four identical payload boxes will be constructed and will all fly together on one large payload platform. The payloads will all collect data and communicate with one another as if they were on separate balloons in a thunderstorm.
Payload Application:
LSU-COATL_HASP2016_Flight_Application.pdf LSU-SURMA_HASP2016_Flight_Application.pdf |