a laboratory and operations building, and the “Stratoport” of Princeton University
which supported Dr. Schwarzschild’s Stratoscope II telescope, and a staging and
warehouse building.
Raven Industries was the first contractor to operate at the newly established
site. John Sparkman was appointed as the UCAR resident manager with Dick
Keuser as the Raven Operations Manager. In 1963, twenty-five flights were flown
from Palestine, Texas. During the year a study was made of using Page, Arizona
as an alternate winter site. Six flights were made from Page in 1963. The success
rate during the year was approximately 50%. By the end of the year the staff at the
Palestine facility consisted of 17 NCAR employees, 12 Raven employees, and two
U.S. Weather Bureau staff.
The first full year of operation was 1964. A total of 83 flights were flown, 15 of
which were test flights. Of the scientific flights, 71% were successful. “Tiny Tim”,
the new launch vehicle specifically designed to support balloon operations, was
built and delivered to NSBF in March 1964. The failure rate of balloons at the
mid-latitude tropopause raised questions about balloon performance in the very
cold tropical tropopause. A series of test flights were flown from Panama in August
1964 resulting in a contract to Winzen to provide balloons for the International
Quiet Sun Year (IQSY) program managed by NCAR. The acquisition of land west
of the existing NSBF facility was started to support a project known as
CLAMSHELTER, a large structure to protect balloons during launch operations.
Engineering problems and budget issues forced cancellation of this concept with
the new land destined to be turned into the new large launch pad. Mr. Alvin Morris
succeeded Mr. Vincent Lally as the Director of the Balloon Facility while Mr.
Lally became head of another NCAR program.
Between 1965 and 1970 the scope of scientific balloons flights increased with
an average of 86 balloon flights per year and a maximum of 98 in 1967. The success rate of scientific balloon flights during this period steadily increased from
68% to 84%. As well as Palestine, Texas and Page, Arizona operational campaigns
were performed in Hyderabad, India, Alegrete, Brazil, Litchfield Park, Arizona,
Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Advances in electronic support systems and development of the Stonehenge launch system, as well as new balloon fabrication materials were accomplished during this expansive period. UCAR took over the work
force at the balloon facility in 1967 rather than utilize contracted operational support staff to provide better continuity and efficiency.
The Golden Age
In 1970 the success rate of 85% was maintained with a total of 83 flights during
the year. Flights operations were conducted in Parana, Argentina, Lakehurst, New
Jersey, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hobbs, New Mexico, Socorro, New Mexico and
Chico, California. In addition balloon facility staff supported American scientists
on five flights from Australia. A conversion of Tiny Tim from a three wheeled to a
258 Appendix 1: A Brief History of the NSBF/CSBF
which supported Dr. Schwarzschild’s Stratoscope II telescope, and a staging and
warehouse building.
Raven Industries was the first contractor to operate at the newly established
site. John Sparkman was appointed as the UCAR resident manager with Dick
Keuser as the Raven Operations Manager. In 1963, twenty-five flights were flown
from Palestine, Texas. During the year a study was made of using Page, Arizona
as an alternate winter site. Six flights were made from Page in 1963. The success
rate during the year was approximately 50%. By the end of the year the staff at the
Palestine facility consisted of 17 NCAR employees, 12 Raven employees, and two
U.S. Weather Bureau staff.
The first full year of operation was 1964. A total of 83 flights were flown, 15 of
which were test flights. Of the scientific flights, 71% were successful. “Tiny Tim”,
the new launch vehicle specifically designed to support balloon operations, was
built and delivered to NSBF in March 1964. The failure rate of balloons at the
mid-latitude tropopause raised questions about balloon performance in the very
cold tropical tropopause. A series of test flights were flown from Panama in August
1964 resulting in a contract to Winzen to provide balloons for the International
Quiet Sun Year (IQSY) program managed by NCAR. The acquisition of land west
of the existing NSBF facility was started to support a project known as
CLAMSHELTER, a large structure to protect balloons during launch operations.
Engineering problems and budget issues forced cancellation of this concept with
the new land destined to be turned into the new large launch pad. Mr. Alvin Morris
succeeded Mr. Vincent Lally as the Director of the Balloon Facility while Mr.
Lally became head of another NCAR program.
Between 1965 and 1970 the scope of scientific balloons flights increased with
an average of 86 balloon flights per year and a maximum of 98 in 1967. The success rate of scientific balloon flights during this period steadily increased from
68% to 84%. As well as Palestine, Texas and Page, Arizona operational campaigns
were performed in Hyderabad, India, Alegrete, Brazil, Litchfield Park, Arizona,
Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Advances in electronic support systems and development of the Stonehenge launch system, as well as new balloon fabrication materials were accomplished during this expansive period. UCAR took over the work
force at the balloon facility in 1967 rather than utilize contracted operational support staff to provide better continuity and efficiency.
The Golden Age
In 1970 the success rate of 85% was maintained with a total of 83 flights during
the year. Flights operations were conducted in Parana, Argentina, Lakehurst, New
Jersey, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Hobbs, New Mexico, Socorro, New Mexico and
Chico, California. In addition balloon facility staff supported American scientists
on five flights from Australia. A conversion of Tiny Tim from a three wheeled to a
258 Appendix 1: A Brief History of the NSBF/CSBF