The Flare Genesis
Experiment
Views of the launch.
Click on the images to view a larger picture
All images were taken by Aniko Safran, with the exeption of those marked with a (*)

Gondola hanging from the launch vehicle outside the barn. The NSBF crew does the last checks before moving to the flight line.
Moving the gondola to the flight line.
The launch vehicle reaches the flight pad and the fog arrives.
Pietro deploys the antennas from the bottom of the gondola.
Dave and Pietro
NSBF crew mounts the parachute termination plate.
Pietro eats something while surveying the gondola.
NSBF crew is taking a brake, and is having fun! (* By Damien Chua)
The gondola hanging from the launch vehicle waiting for the take off.
And again the FGE gondola. (* By Damien Chua)
Dave proudly standing next to the FGE telescope! On the background the volcano Mt. Erebus.
NSBF crew deploies the parachute. On the background the helium tank arrives.
Deploying the balloon.
A skua looks arround, intersted and maybe amused by what is going on.
Balloon inflation crew replacing a balloon valve.
Again working on the installation of the balloon valve.
Everything is ready! The balloon inflation begins!
Pietro, Dave, and Rick Sterling (member of the MAXIS project) observe the inflation operation.
Ready for launch!
Ready for launch! (* By Damien Chua)
Launch! The balloon is released ... (* By Tobias Schunck)
... it pulls first the parachute ... (* By Tobias Schunck)
... and then the gondola! Good bye! Have a safe flight! See you in a couple of weeks! (* By Tobias Schunck)

Back to the Flare Genesis Experiment Home page.
Updated Jan 15