Flight 55: Released from Alamogordo, New Mexico, 1907 MST, May 3, 1948
Recovered at Northeast, Pennsylvania
On this flight a barograph was flown, and a satisfactory Olland-cycle pressure modulator was also used for over 5 hours to give height data. The length of time of signal reception is significant, since the battery box of the transmitter was not insulated, and there was no heat to be gained from the sun during this nighttime flight. The .001" polyethylene balloon was observed descending 22 hours later after traveling more than 1500 miles.
The altitude control used on this flight was an automatic ballast valve, activated by a minimum-pressure switch, and as evidenced by the barogram in Figure 20 (12-hour rotation), the balloon maintained its altitude for over
[figure]
Time-MST
NYU BALLOON PROJECT FLIGHT 55
Barograph Record Of G.M. 20 Ft Balloon With
Automatic Ballast Valve
RELEASED AT ALAMOGORDO, N.M., 1907 MST- 3 MAY, 1948
RECOVERED AT NORTHEAST, PA., 4 MAY, 1948
DURATION 23 HOURS
Figure 20
15 hours before beginning its accelerating descent. On this flight record, marked oscillations are observed at three points. Despite the presence of automatic ballast controls which might cause oscillatory motion, these rises and falls must be attributed to atmospheric disturbances since the magnitude of the forces required to produce such accelerations is far greater than any which could be supplied by the control equipment.
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