Sébastien CHASTANET

View of the landscape at Telegraph Station, not far from the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using…

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

View of the landscape at Telegraph Station, not far from the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using…

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Preparing the operational service gondola. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. The operational service gondola contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and ballast container. In particular, these gondolas enable the actuation of gas- or ballast-releasing devices, to control…

Preparing the operational service gondola. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. The operational service gondola contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and ballast container. In particular, these gondolas enable the actuation of gas- or ballast-releasing devices, to control…

Rehearsing launch operations on the asphalt at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Before a stratospheric balloon is launched, the flight assembly must be set up. This generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. Measurements are more economical and…

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

Pyrotechnic separation device at the top of the flight assembly (triple-parachute top section), awaiting installation in the envelope gondola as part of the preparations for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions, at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small…

Pre-flight preparation of the PILOT gondola at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Hoisted aloft by a high-altitude balloon on 16 and 17 April 2017, in near-interstellar vacuum conditions, PILOT was controlled in real time by a time of scientists, who were able to collect signals normally blocked by the Earth's atmosphere. This invaluable data will provide new insights into the history of the universe.

Preparing the operational service gondola. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. The operational service gondola contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and ballast container. In particular, these gondolas enable the actuation of gas- or ballast-releasing devices, to control…

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

Rehearsing launch operations on the asphalt at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Before a stratospheric balloon is launched, the flight assembly must be set up. This generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. Measurements are more economical and…

The team of balloon engineers working on the "Austral" campaign deploy a test balloon at the Alice Springs launch facility in Australia. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions in April 2017. These gondolas, lifted by helium-filled balloons, were launched to an altitude of several tens of kilometres. To enable this, the research team consulted data from satellites and test balloons in search of the ideal meteorological conditions. To maximise…

Deploying the top (triple-parachute) section of a balloon gondola's flight assembly, in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. This flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off…

The inflight scientific data monitoring software application, during preparations for the PILOT mission, at the Alice Springs balloon launch base. Hoisted aloft by a high-altitude balloon on 16 and 17 April 2017, in near-interstellar vacuum conditions, the PILOT gondola, carrying a telescope, was controlled in real time by a time of scientists, who were able to collect signals normally blocked by the Earth's atmosphere. This invaluable data will provide new insights into the history of the…

Rehearsing launch operations on the asphalt at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Before a stratospheric balloon is launched, the flight assembly must be set up. This generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. Measurements are more economical and…

Wheeling out the CLIMAT gondola at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The red and white object is the Aircore instrument developed by the dynamic meteorology laboratory (Labo de Météo Dynamique - LMD) in Paris. This instrument performs a form of "air coring", sucking in air that is subsequently analysed on the ground in order to reveal the respective concentrations of the various atmospheric constituents. The CLIMAT mission ( Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ…

Parachute spreader awaiting installation in the operational service gondola, in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. It contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and…

Camion transportant des bâches en préparation d'un vol, sur le site de lancement de ballons d'Alice Springs, en Australie. Les bâches sont obligatoirement disposées au sol avant de déplier le ballon principal afin de ne pas endommager ce dernier. Lors du lâcher, le camion permet de retenir le ballon auxiliaire et grâce à son treuil (caisse métallique à l’arrière) il vient fixer la nacelle charge utile avant le lancement.

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

Rehearsing launch operations on the asphalt at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Before a stratospheric balloon is launched, the flight assembly must be set up. This generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. Measurements are more economical and…

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

Preparing the operational service gondola. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. The operational service gondola contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and ballast container. In particular, these gondolas enable the actuation of gas- or ballast-releasing devices, to control…

Parachute spreader awaiting installation in the operational service gondola, in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs facility in Australia. Situated in the core of the flight assembly, the operational service gondola receives and transmits data between the airborne and ground-based segments, and controls the aerostat (stratospheric balloon) in flight. It contains the flight avionics components, including the onboard computers, transponder and…

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

Rehearsing launch operations on the asphalt at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. Before a stratospheric balloon is launched, the flight assembly must be set up. This generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. Measurements are more economical and…

A tethered balloon is used to identify the wind direction in preparation for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. These yellow balloons indicate the wind direction at altitudes of up to 200 m. To maximise the flight altitude and duration, balloon launches for the various missions must be planned to coincide with stratospheric wind inversions. The research team therefore consulted data from satellites, radiosonde balloons and…

Assembling the auxiliary balloon in preparation for flight at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. The gondolas for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA mission will be suspended from…

Preparing the CASOLBA mission, with the CARMEN gondola visible in the background at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CASOLBA mission payload consists of 60 photovoltaic solar cells. The aim of the mission is to calibrate the cells in real-life, quasi-space conditions. The cells will serve as primary calibration standards, from which to produce secondary standards that will in turn be used by manufacturers of solar cells intended for satellites. CASOLBA has been installed…

The PILOT gondola being prepared at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The PILOT astronomical science gondola, with a telescope payload, has been designed for use in studying the origins of the universe. Its purpose is to measure submillimetric polarised emissions from interstellar dust. More specifically, the project aims to map the magnetic fields in the interstellar clouds of the Milky Way, and study their role in star formation These unprecedented measurements are being…

View of the desert surrounding the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical and simpler to perform using balloons than using…

A row of containers for the "Austral" balloon launch campaign facing the buildings at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. This facility's position in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions of the Milky Way, which are only visible from this hemisphere. This base was used to launch the balloons for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions. Measurements are more economical…

Preparing the CLIMAT gondola for flight, with the CARMEN gondola visible in the background at the Alice Springs balloon launch base in Australia. The CLIMAT mission ( Combination of Lasers and Instruments for in situ Measurement of the Atmosphere of Earth) concerns a group of experiments by French and European laboratories aimed at furthering research into atmospheric physics and chemistry. CLIMAT is a 240kg gondola, carried under a 150,000 cu. m balloon to a ceiling altitude of 33 km. For…

Assembling the auxiliary balloon in preparation for flight at the balloon launch base in Alice Springs, in Australia. The flight assembly generally consists of the gondola and its payload of scientific instruments, but also a radar transponder, parachutes to enable a controlled landing during the balloon's post-mission descent, and a small auxiliary balloon from which the gondola is suspended pending lift-off. The gondolas for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA mission will be suspended from…

Launch site for the "Austral" campaign in Alice Springs, Australia. The preparation hall for the PILOT, CLIMAT and CARMEN/CASOLBA missions can be seen on the right. The hangar to its left is devoted entirely to preparing the balloons that will carry the mission payloads to altitudes of several tens of kilometres. The Alice Springs facility's location in the southern hemisphere enables astrophysicists and astronomers to observe heavenly bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and internal regions…