Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Balloon Borne Investigation of Earth, Atmosphere and Space in the Polar Regions.  (NOBILE = NOrthern Balloon Investigations with Long duration Experiments)

Outline
Polar Long Duration Balloon Experiments provide access to space at areasonable cost. The interest in this technology is rapidly growing and the Italian Space Agency in a cooperative effort with the Norway Andoya Rocket Range is developing a program of balloon launches from the Svalbard site of Longyearbyen (Peterzen et al., 2003, 16th ESA symp. on European Rocket and Balloon Programmes and Related Research, ESA-SP-530, pg. 213).In Italy several groups are developing science payloads for these flights. In various states of development are1) the PEGASO / TRAIL BLAZER project, aimed to measure the Earth magnetic field in the startosphere by means of a series of LDB flights of small magnetometer payloads. The instruments have flux-gate magnetometers, and independent GPS and IRIDIUM based telemetry.PI dr. Giovanni Romeo at INGV-Roma.2) the OLIMPO microwave/sub-mm telescope, an experiment devoted to the measurement of the Cosmic Microwave Background in the direction of Clusters of Galaxies and the anisotropy of the far IR backgroundradiation. The instrument features arrays of 19,37,37,37 bolometricdetectors respectively at frequencies of 150, 240, 350, 540 GHz. Theresolution is few arcminutes. PI dr. Silvia Masi (Masi S. et al., 2003, ESA-SP-530, pg. 557)3) the BAR-SPORT experiment, a proposed balloon-borne microwave polarimeter aimed at the measurement of the polarization of the Cosmic Microwave Background at 90 GHz, with extremely low instrumental polarization. PI dr. Stefano Cortiglioni IASF-Bologna. (Cortiglioni et al., 2003, ESA-SP-530, pg. 271) 4) the BOOMERanG experiment, after the successfull flights from Antartica, will map foregrounds polarization at 350GHz: this measurement is propedeutic to a B-modes polarization of CMB satellite.Interest in polar flight opportunities has been expressed by atmospheric physics, planetary science, biology, and high energy astrophysics groups. The LDB program is an established activity in the southern hemisphere, carried out by NASA/NSBF. This complementary one in the Northern Polar regions will add significant flight opportunities to scientific groups worldwide. The programme is proceeding in steps. The first coordinated launches were started in 2003, and in July 2004 the first LDB payload has been successfully flown from Svalbards (Peterzen et al. in preparation). The small payload (25 Kg) remained at float for more than 40 days. A Norway-Italian campaign of large (> 400 Kg) scientific balloon flights from Svalbard in preparation and during the IPY will be a great way to celebrate the NORGE mission of 1926, 80 years later.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The measurement of the Earth Magnetic Field at continent scales in the Polar Stratosphere by means of the PEGASO flights. This is important to sample the crustal magnetic anomalies at scales of 300-400 km, which are not measured efficiently by satellite instruments, nor by ground based observatories.In the field of Cosmology and Fundamental Physics, the OLIMPO balloon experiment promises to measure a significant set of Cluster of Galaxies at millimeter wavelengths via the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect. This will allow an independent measurement of the Hubble constant and of the early evolution of structures in our universe; BOOMERanG will provide an accurate template of interstellar dust polarization at high Galactic latitudes, which is mandatory for any attempt to measure the inflationary gravitational waves through their imprint in CMB polarization. In general, setting-up a LDB balloon facility in Svalbard will enhance the science development in Polar Regions and provide ready and cheap access to space to many researchers worldwide.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Instrument development, Launch and Support teams include organizations from Italy, France, UK, Norway, Russia, USA . A formal agreement among the Italian Space Agency and the Norwegian Andoya Rocket Range for polar LDB launches has been recently signed.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Longyearbyen, Svalbard 78º 14’N. This location has high latitude, airfields, and the facilities to support the requirements of LDB polar flights as well as ground based experiments in the Northern Hemisphere. Mario Zucchelli Base of the Italian Antarctic Program, 74° 41’42” S, 164° 07’23” E, Antarctica). This location has all the facilities to support the requirements of LDB campaign in the Southern Hemisphere.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Spring/Summer 2005      Spring/Summer 2006      Spring/Summer 2007
Antarctic: December 2005      December 2006      December 2007

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Launch site, Integration facility, Weather Station, Telemetry, Power generator. Can be shared with similar balloon projects. In addition to the available resources in Longyearbyen, the project will be erecting an integration facility, provided by Andoya Rocket Range, for construction and testing of the payloads. The project has also purchased a small structure that will be used to house a meteorological station and a communication (telemetry) base. By the end of 2005 we anticipate the launch pad, integration building, power generation and support facilities will be erected and functional. These facilities will be available for supporting future international science programs.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
Yes. Since Italian Space Agency and Andoya Rocket Range are developing this facility as a joint effort, there will be a long range support system provided by each agency. In addition the University Centre at Svalbard (UNIS) has a campus on site that can also be brought in to help support and participate in future programs.The final goal is the Development of a European LDB Program and Research Center in the Northern Polar Region, open to the scientific community and to the various Universities as a training facility for students

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own national polar operator
Another national polar operator
National agency
Military support
Own support
Other sources of support

A Proposal to the European Union is being prepared. Proposals with the US Airforce operating in Greenland are being worked on for logistical support involving recovery efforts in the northern latitudes. There are also military support considerations with the Norweigans and Russians for support in their respective air spaces.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
Yes, LDB polar flights are one of the most important activities of the Balloon Base of the Italian Space Agency and of the Norway suborbital program through Andoya Rocket Range. Are already planned for several years. Also, this Expression of interest is in the process of being considered by the Italian National Committee for IPY. The proposed activity has been presented as idea N.222 in the Ideas National section http://www.ipy.org/concept/ideas/national/index.php

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
no
Part of the the LDB program of the Norway ARR and Suborbital Programs of the Italian Space Agency (Balloon Base LDB section)

How will the project be organised and managed?
The Italian Space Agency (ASI) in support of the development of the LDB program from polar regions, has contracted with ISTAR to support and manage the campaigns. As ASI is supporting and funding the NOBILE experiments, we are using ISTAR as well. Between the University of Rome la Sapienza, ASI (through ISTAR) and shared personnel from Andoya Rocket Range, we have divided the tasking of support so each agency has responsibilities required for the success of the program. There is currently a Letter of Agreement being written between ARR and ASI outlining the support activities and contributions.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
We are preparing a program in collaboration with universities in Italy and in Norway to launch payloads made in collaboration with groups of students, in an analogous way as ESA does for satellite and ISS students program. All the experiments we are planning to launch LDB will have on board a student’s payload. Every experiment involves undergrads, graduate students, PhD and post docs.The University Centre at Svalbard (UNIS) has a campus in Longyearbyen Svalbard that we have opened discussions with on performing support activities and for participation in the balloon program. We have also met with international colleagues to lay the ground work for extending an invitation for participation of their students in all activities of the campaigns including administrative, science, logistics, and data management.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Data rights are managed by experiments PI’s, and follow usual rules (in agreement with ASI and PNRA data protocols). We welcome all interested parties in sharing the data through regular means of proposals.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
ASI, along with ARR are funding the launch activities. In addition, a proposal to the European Union is being prepared. The instruments are supported by ASI, MIUR, PNRA . ASI and PNRA will support the Antarctic campaign logistics.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The polar programs we are engaged in were initialized with a vision towards an international cooperation. From the first investigations with the small stratospheric balloons launched in 2003 to the proposed NOBILE experiment, we have kept an “open door policy” for all interested personnel to participate. The Svalbard balloon launch site and research station will offer a unique opportunity for multi-disciplinary science development.

PROPOSER DETAILS

PhD Silvia Masi
Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita’ La Sapienza
P.le A. Moro 2, Roma
00185
Italy

Tel: +39-06-49914690
Mobile: +39-338-9367800
Fax: +39-06-4957697
Email:

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Other Information