A New Paradigm in Space Based Experiments Using Rubber Balloons

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel space-based experiment using low-cost rubber balloons to detect solar flares and muons at high altitudes, demonstrating the potential for cost-effective space physics research.

Contribution

It introduces a new balloon-borne experimental paradigm for long-duration space physics observations, including muon detection and solar flare analysis at cruising altitudes.

Findings

Successful detection of solar flare spectra at 20-100 keV

High energy X-ray flux at 10-13 km altitude can exceed cosmic ray contributions

Validation of low-cost balloon system for space physics experiments

Abstract

Indian Centre for Space Physics is engaged in long duration balloon borne experiments with typical payloads less than ~ 3kg. Low cost rubber balloons are used. In a double balloon system, the booster balloon lifts the orbiter balloon to its cruising altitude where data is taken for a long time. Here we present results of muon detections and recent solar activities, including the light curves and flare spectra in the 20-100keV range. We not only show that we have successfully obtained several flares and there spectra at different altitudes, we also found that the high energy X-ray flux of strong flares at altitudes of 10-13 km (the flight altitude of commercial planes) could be more than the contribution due to cosmic rays.