wanka - a mission to measure stratospheric aerosols concentration using low-cost commercial sensors onboard a high-altitude balloon

Paper number

IAC-22,E2,3-GTS.4,15,x71364

Author

Mr. Ramiro Gustavo Tintaya Quispe, Peru, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Coauthor

Mr. Martin Salazar, Peru, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Coauthor

Mr. Julver Marrufo, Peru, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Coauthor

Mr. David Arrustico, Peru, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Coauthor

Mr. Antony Davila, Peru, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Coauthor

Mr. Germain Rosadio Vega, Peru, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Coauthor

Mr. Lucas Nicolas Taipe Ramos, Peru, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Coauthor

Ms. MARIA NIMIA MUÑOZ DIAZ, Peru, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Coauthor

Mr. Anibal Esquiembre, Peru, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Coauthor

Mr. Giusep Alexander Baca Bernabe, Brazil, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Coauthor

Mr. Luis Suarez, Peru

Coauthor

Mr. George Steve Fajardo Soria, Peru, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria, Peru

Coauthor

Mr. Dario Adolfo Huanca Paredes, Peru, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

Coauthor

Mr. Miguel Morales Gonzales, Peru, Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería (Lima, Perù)

Year

2022

Abstract

\begin{document}
Interest in stratospheric aerosols has grown during the last decades, mainly because of their increase and their potential applications to control global warming, as they can scatter the radiation that enters the planet. However, there is uncertainty about their concentration and effects they cause, due to their high spatial and temporal variability, and physical and chemical processes to which they are exposed. In situ is the most affordable way for university students to measure stratospheric aerosols parameters, as ground based and space based measurements are usually performed by governmental institutions. In situ measurements can be done using a High-Altitude Balloon; however, many institutions do not have the equipment necessary to design a payload specialized in measuring stratospheric aerosol parameters.

WANKA is a mission developed by peruvian undergraduate students from different universities, which main objective is to measure the concentration of stratospheric aerosols. It was done by the launch of a payload at the High-Altitude Student Platform (HASP 2021). HASP is a program created to train students in the development of aerospace projects giving them regular flight opportunities onboard a high-altitude balloon. It is operated as a partnership between the NASA Balloon Program Office (BPO) and Louisiana Space Consortium (LaSPACE). 

WANKA developed a cost-effective way to measure stratospheric aerosols concentration using two low-cost commercial light-scattering-based particle matter sensors, the Plantower PMS 7003 and the Sharp GP2Y1010AU0F. In order to perform these measurements, it was developed a system that acquires constantly samples from the stratosphere and adequate them to conditions where the sensors can operate.  

WANKA team members worked mainly online due to COVID-19 restrictions and traveled to NASA facilities for the testing and launch activities. The payload was launched on September 14, 2021, from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, USA. Most of the subsystems operated as expected, however, PMS7003 failed at certain times during the flight. It was not possible to compare directly the acquired data with the one from other systems, however, the data behaved as expected. Finally, the team was accepted to participate in HASP 2022, to solve the issues from the past flight and accomplish its main objective successfully.
\end{document}

Abstract document

IAC-22,E2,3-GTS.4,15,x71364.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-22,E2,3-GTS.4,15,x71364.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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