The Romanian Cosmonautics and Aeronautics Association (ARCA) in partnership with Romanian Air Club and Romanian Aeronautics Federation have launched Mission 5, the test before Helen 2 space rocket launch.
The flight took place between 07:45 - 08:45 AM , with take-off from Hoghiz - Brasov.
During this flight, a manned hot air balloon lifted to 5200m altitude the Helen 2 first stage pressurised capsule and the ELL capsule (European Lunar Lander). The maximum distance between the carrier balloon and the command center at Sanpetru airfield was 42 km, which corresponds with safety zone simulation for Helen 2 rocket.
The flight objectives were:
- live TV transmission test
- telemetry systems test with radio and satellite reception
- command systems test with radio and satellite transmission
- pneumatics systems test for rocket stage separation and the system for triggering the supersonic recovery parachutes
The flight results were:
- overall the TV system worked well, reception time was aprox 92% of emission time
- the radio and satellite telemetry systems worked perfectly during flight
- two out of three radio command systems worked perfectly. The third malfunctioned due to circuit cut-off from command panel to transmission antenna. When the problem was solved, the carrier balloon descended below radio sight and reception was no longer possible. Satellite command system worked perfectly.
- the pneumatic rocket stage separation systems and the system for triggering the supersonic recovery parachutes worked perfectly.
"If Helen 2 rocket launch would have taken place today, from pneumatic and electronic equipments standpoint, we would have reached outer space" - Dumitru Popescu, ARCA president.
Balloon crew was comprised of Mihai Ilie - pilot, Mugurel Ionescu - copilot and Dumitru Popescu Helen 2 rocket equipments operator.
This flight is a part of The Google Lunar Xprize international competition.
Helen 2 space rocket will be launched in very short time from the Black Sea during the already scheduled Mission 4.