Atmospheric Observations by a Balloon-Borne Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder

A balloon-borne superconducting submillimeter-wave limb-emission sounder was developed to measure stratospheric molecules. It carries a 300 mm-diameter offset parabolic antenna, a 620-650 GHz heterodyne SIS receiver, and an acousto-optical spectrometer. T
_sys
(DSB) is less than 460 K at 624-639 GHz with a best value of 330 K(11 hv/k
_B
). BSMILES was launched from Japan in 2003 and 2004. All systems operated properly and emission line spectra of O
₃
, CIO, HO, HO
₂
etc. were measured. After the observations, the gondola splashed on the Pacific Ocean and was retrieved.