Q&A with the SCoPEx team

Why conduct the experiment?

Computer modelling and laboratory work tell us some very useful things, but outdoor experiments can provide perspective that is impossible to obtain in the laboratory, and SCoPEx can help us validate important model parameters.

Is it dangerous?

The test will pose no significant hazard to people or the environment. Calcium carbonate is a non-toxic chemical commonly found in nature. The amount of material will be very small compared to other routine releases into the stratosphere by aircraft, rockets or balloon flights.

What is the purpose of the initial test flight?

A platform test is needed before the science experiment because SCoPEx will use a new flight platform that has not flown before. There are significant technical challenges in developing it as an operational vehicle independent of the challenges of the actual experiment.

Why Sweden?

We have chosen to partner with the Swedish Space Corporation because of its availability for summer 2021 and experience launching scientific balloons. We also looked at several US balloon operators, but because of COVID-19 and other logistical and scheduling challenges, there were no US-based options that could provide a 2021 early summer launch.