XL-Calibur Image Gallery: Launch
XL-Calibur in 2022 (Kiruna, Sweden launch)
XL-Calibur payload on the launcher (Kiruna, Sweden).
XL-Calibur team members in front of
the assembled telescope and gondola in preparation for launch,
June 24, 2022 (Kiruna, Sweden). [Left to right: Dennis Huelsman,
Nicole Rodriguez, Andrew West, Lindsey Lisalda, Dana Braun, Richard Bose,
Ephraim Gau, and Henric Krawcyznski (Principal Investigator)]
XL-Calibur payload assembled and connected to balloon rigging in
preparation for launch,
June 24, 2022 (Kiruna, Sweden).
The launch of XL-Calibur on 12 July 2022. The launch occurred in the very early
hours, but since Kiruna is above the Arctic Circle, it has 24 hours of daylight in
summer. The balloon has just been released and the rigging lines connecting it to
the launcher carrying XL-Calibur is laid out on a mat to prevent any abrasive to
the lines as the balloon lifts off. The payload is released with the balloon is directly
above the launcher, which is running its engine to manuveur as necessary at the last
moment for release. See the YouTube video (below) to
see the process in action.
The view from XL-Calibur in flight taken by a camera attached to the balloon rigging
and pointed towards the X-ray mirror/star tracker end of the telescope, 12 July 2022.
XL-Calibur in flight at altitude (roughly 35 km) over Norway. Note that the balloon is
fully inflated. Stratospheric wind circulation is taking the balloon (as planned)
westward with a near-constant latitude over Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and Northern
Canada. Photograph by Jon Jakobsen.
The balloon was seen at its cruising altitude by various people as it traversed
the North Atlantic, passing north of Iceland and over the southern tip of Greenland.
Here it is seen in Nunavat Province in Canada’s northeast. Photograph by
Haley John Shimout Anaruaq.
XL-Calibur on the ground after landing in Canada’s Northwest Territories.
The parachute is disconnected from the
gondola on the ground to prevent the wind dragging the instruments. The
gondola touched down safely in the open despite landing in
a boreal forest.
The flight path of XL-Calibur from its launch from Esrange Space
Center in Sweden on 12 July 2022 to touchdown several days later in northern Canada .
X-Calibur in December 2018. McMurdo Station, Antarctica
X-Calibur (the predecessor to XL-Calibur) on the launcher at McMurdo
Station, Antarctica in December 2018.
X-Calibur during a pre-flight hang test at McMurdo Station.
X-Calibur launch.
X-Calibur as it ascended to the stratosphere.
Movies
Rolling XL-Calibur out of the assembly building to prepare for
mounting to the balloon rigging for a prelaunch compatability “hang
test” (49 s;
640 x 360 MP4 (2.5 MB);
1920 x 1080 MP4 (14.7 MB);
YouTube
).
XL-Calibur lift/hang test on Feb 9, 2022 at the Columbia Scientific
Balloon Facility (Palestine, Texas) (29 s;
640 x 360 MP4 (2.1 MB);
1280 x 720 MP4 (7.8 MB);
YouTube
).
Rolling back XL-Calibur to the assembly building after the
prelaunch compatability test and weather-driven launch postponment (56 s;
640 x 360 MP4 (3.6 MB);
1920 x 1080 MP4 (21.9 MB);
YouTube
).
XL-Calibur being launched from Esrange Space Center on 12 July 2022. The balloon appears
only partially inflated at ground level as it expands to a full 1.12 million cubic meters
at high altitude (105 s;
854 x 480 MP4 (6.7 MB);
1920 x 1080 MP4 (27.7 MB);
YouTube
).
