ORISON, A Stratospheric Project
Abstract
This paper reports the concept and preliminary outcomes of the ORISON feasibility study addressing an observatory-type, regularly flying high stratospheric research infrastructure. Implemented with a focus on comparably low costs and flexible operations, balloon-based systems such as the one presented have the potential to complement ground and space based observations and, in addition, to provide a test platform for future space-based instrumentation. The stratospheric observation conditions make such systems particularly suitable for planetary observations. They not only provide access to spectral regimes inaccessible from the ground and photometric stabilities not obtainable from the ground, but also observational opportunities at additional times of the daily cycle and throughout the year. In this paper, we present the overall ORISON concept, exemplary applications for planetary science, and propose first-light instrumentation for a balloon-based observatory to serve these applications.
- Publication:
-
European Planetary Science Congress
- Pub Date:
- September 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017EPSC...11..650M