Planetary Defense and Near Space Activity of Baja in 2022-23
Abstract
Owing to the coordinated cooperation of the consortium of a few institutions and private partners, some special "planetary defense" and "near space" services are available by request since 2023. First, a new, independent fireball observing network was installed and tested in 2022. Practically the whole atmospheric region over Hungary is covered up to 100-110 km by 6 stations. Each station is used in automatic operation mode but has local technical assistance. The camera heads consist of 7 (in the case of the latest installation 8) identical camera+lens combo, GPS sensor, and weather-proof acrylic dome. The local control is done by a mini-PC at the sites, but all these stations are part of the whole-earth "allsky7" system. The main aim is to produce more accurate luminous atmospheric orbits for the brightest bolides and supply better initial parameters for dark flight calculations, resulting in a better chance to uncover the possible strewn fields of future events. The DAMBALL high-altitude balloon group and SOPROBOTICS team continued the "intelligent" artificial meteoroid drop experiment. The on-flight communication and crash tests are done, now the final tests are on the way (wind-tunnel tests and the remote-controlled drop-down mechanics). The group offers near-space test opportunities for any interested space technology-related entities for flight-tests of any instruments - within a given size-, and weight limit (the maximum is about 1 kg which can be lifted over 25 km). The expected time for near-space tests is about 30 minutes (this is the average time of the gondola complex being above 25 km height), but uncontrolled.
- Publication:
-
7th International Conference in Astronomy
- Pub Date:
- July 2023
- Bibcode:
- 2023aasp.confE..24H