The infrastructure deals with a wide range of mission characteristics including
altitude, flight duration, instrument mass and volume. Flights can be performed
during all seasons at various latitudes to satisfy various scientific requirements.
Currently, HEMERA uses zero-pressure balloons for flights in the stratosphere
that measure essential climate variables or make astrophysical observations but
additional types of balloons are being considered. HEMERA provides access to
launch sites necessary to achieve the broad coverage for scientific studies in the
context of climate change.
The HEMERA project has thirteen partners from seven countries participating
in balloon-borne research. This broad consortium of space agencies, companies
and scientific communities ensures that the HEMERA infrastructure will provide
the best environment and technologies to fulfil its overarching goals. In coordinating European balloon activities, HEMERA will complement both national programs and those of the European Space Agency.
9.3.5 ESA/Sweden/Germany
For many years, university students of different nationalities and backgrounds
have worked with the ESA Education Office in collaboration with the Swedish
National Space Agency (SNSA) and the German Space Agency (DLR), taking a
variety of space projects from the initial concept through to flight. The REXUS
(Rocket Experiment for University Students) and BEXUS (Balloon Experiment
for University Students) programs have guided over 1,300 students from across
Europe through each stage of a space mission to provide enrichment from both a
technical and personal point of view. Due to this effort, university students from
Member States and Associate States of ESA can design, assemble and test a real
experiment, launch it to the upper atmosphere on either a rocket or a balloon and
retrieve it for data analysis. Meeting and working with professionals in the space
industry and like-minded students from elsewhere Europe provides a fascinating
multicultural experience, direct knowledge transfer and networking opportunities.
The REXUS vehicle is a sounding rocket that can achieve an apogee of
75-90 km (246,000-295,000 ft), which is in the mesosphere, and provide up to 2
minutes of reduced gravity. It can carry a payload of 40 kg (88 lb). BEXUS is a
balloon that can carry a payload of 40-100 kg (88 lb-220 lb) up to a float altitude
of 20-30 km (65,600-98,400 ft) to spend between 2 and 5 hours in the
stratosphere.
Each year around 10 teams from the SNSA/ESA applications and 10 teams
from the DLR applications participate in this exciting program. The selected
teams are given the opportunity to travel around Europe to participate in technical
reviews where experts from the most important space organizations and institutes
provide the teams with their extensive knowledge and expertise. Finally, at the end
of the program, successful teams receive a “flight ticket” that grants their experiment a place on the appropriate vehicle for their mission.
9.3 International Organizations 219
altitude, flight duration, instrument mass and volume. Flights can be performed
during all seasons at various latitudes to satisfy various scientific requirements.
Currently, HEMERA uses zero-pressure balloons for flights in the stratosphere
that measure essential climate variables or make astrophysical observations but
additional types of balloons are being considered. HEMERA provides access to
launch sites necessary to achieve the broad coverage for scientific studies in the
context of climate change.
The HEMERA project has thirteen partners from seven countries participating
in balloon-borne research. This broad consortium of space agencies, companies
and scientific communities ensures that the HEMERA infrastructure will provide
the best environment and technologies to fulfil its overarching goals. In coordinating European balloon activities, HEMERA will complement both national programs and those of the European Space Agency.
9.3.5 ESA/Sweden/Germany
For many years, university students of different nationalities and backgrounds
have worked with the ESA Education Office in collaboration with the Swedish
National Space Agency (SNSA) and the German Space Agency (DLR), taking a
variety of space projects from the initial concept through to flight. The REXUS
(Rocket Experiment for University Students) and BEXUS (Balloon Experiment
for University Students) programs have guided over 1,300 students from across
Europe through each stage of a space mission to provide enrichment from both a
technical and personal point of view. Due to this effort, university students from
Member States and Associate States of ESA can design, assemble and test a real
experiment, launch it to the upper atmosphere on either a rocket or a balloon and
retrieve it for data analysis. Meeting and working with professionals in the space
industry and like-minded students from elsewhere Europe provides a fascinating
multicultural experience, direct knowledge transfer and networking opportunities.
The REXUS vehicle is a sounding rocket that can achieve an apogee of
75-90 km (246,000-295,000 ft), which is in the mesosphere, and provide up to 2
minutes of reduced gravity. It can carry a payload of 40 kg (88 lb). BEXUS is a
balloon that can carry a payload of 40-100 kg (88 lb-220 lb) up to a float altitude
of 20-30 km (65,600-98,400 ft) to spend between 2 and 5 hours in the
stratosphere.
Each year around 10 teams from the SNSA/ESA applications and 10 teams
from the DLR applications participate in this exciting program. The selected
teams are given the opportunity to travel around Europe to participate in technical
reviews where experts from the most important space organizations and institutes
provide the teams with their extensive knowledge and expertise. Finally, at the end
of the program, successful teams receive a “flight ticket” that grants their experiment a place on the appropriate vehicle for their mission.
9.3 International Organizations 219