PoS - Proceedings of Science
Volume 301 - 35th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2017) - Session Cosmic-Ray Indirect. CRI-instrumentation EAS
Calibrating and Testing EUSO-SPB in Flight using a Laser and LEDs on an Aircraft
M. Mastafa*, J. Adams, M.J. Christl, L. Wiencke, J. Eser  on behalf of the JEM-EUSO Collaboration
Full text: pdf
Pre-published on: August 18, 2017
Published on: August 03, 2018
Abstract
The EUSO-SPB (EUSO super pressure balloon) experiment is designed to make observations
of fluorescence light from Extreme Energy Cosmic Ray (EECR) Extensive Air Showers
(EASs) by looking down on the atmosphere from above. The flight lasted for 13 days with a
total of more than 30 hours of observations on dark nights. The balloon was launched on April
24, 2017, from Wanaka New Zealand. A navigation system consists of MATLAB GUI software
together with tracker beacon and Ham radio was designed to track the location of tracking the
instrument's field of view. This navigation system was tested prior to the flight in Huntsville, Al.
An airplane carrying calibrated UV light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a UV laser was planned to
fly under the balloon on a moonless night when it is at its float altitude. This under flight was to
calibrate EUSO-SPB using these light sources to produce EECR-like signals. The laser pulses
were to calibrate the trigger efficiency and track reconstruction accuracy of the experiment. The
flashers will to determine the sensitivity of EUSO-SPB to fluorescent light near the maxima
of EASs. Unfortunately, the balloon flight had to be terminated before there was an opportunity
for the under flight. This paper describes preparations for the under flight including the design of tracking system and the calibration light sources that were to be carried on the airplane.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22323/1.301.0448
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