1997 Texas Test Flight Pictures

BOOMERANG 1997 Texas Test Flight:
Pictures from Palestine

Assembly

Before flying balloon-borne around Antarctica, BOOMERANG required preparation. After instrument construction, NASA's Scientific Balloon Program requires that the instrument be flown in a North American test flight before going to Antarctica. Assembly and testing of the instrument took place at the National Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas.

Here are some pictures from BOOMERANG's highly successful 1997 North American test flight. The information obtained during this flight resulted in science papers available on our publications page.


The partially assembled gondola hanging in the NSBF highbay.	The Gondola outside hanging on the launch vehicle (Tiny Tim), ready for flight.

Flight

	BOOMERANG (the payload) and launch vehicle (Tiny Tim) on the launch pad (to the left) with the balloon rising (on the right) just after the balloon was released.
	The balloon continues to rise; Tiny Tim holds BOOMERANG until the balloon rises overhead, being careful to position the payload directly underneath the rising balloon, and then...
	...releases! BOOMERANG rises into the Texas evening sky for its overnight test flight.

Last update: 04/25/2000