Live tracking of the balloon -at least in its initial phase- available at:

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=390877

or

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/FGCDX

#Esrange #Science #Technology #Balloon #CNES #AtmoshericSciences #Transat2024

Balloon of the TRANSAT mission just launched. Release of the payload occured at 18:57 UTC.

A nice and picture-perfect auxiliary balloon launch.

#Esrange #Science #Technology #Balloon #CNES #AtmoshericSciences

Balloon inflation completed.

Waiting for launch

#Esrange #Science #Technology #Balloon #CNES #AtmoshericSciences

Inflation continues. Release time now changed to 18:30 UTC

Follow operations live via youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksRRNch-qzo

#Esrange #Science #Technology #Balloon #CNES #AtmoshericSciences

The TRANSAT mission will be the first attempt of #CNES to perform a controlled (*) Transatlantic balloon flight. The power will be obtained by a solar panel system to be unfolded during the flight and with its own solar pointing system.

Two relay stations will maintain the link with the balloon: in #Esrange and in #Kangerlussuaq, Greenland.

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(*) In the past several French balloons landed unintendedly in northamerican soil.

#Science #Technology #Balloon #AtmoshericSciences

Main balloon inflation just started. Estimated launch time around 18:00 UTC.

Surface wind is picking up (see the curving of the inflation tubes).

#Esrange #Science #Technology #Balloon #CNES #AtmoshericSciences