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National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Astrophysics Science Division | Sciences and Exploration

This website is kept for archival purposes only and is no longer updated.

ARCADE Status

ARCADE had a successful flight on July 22, 2006. The payload launched flawlessly from the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas, carrying 1800 liters of liquid helium and a full complement of radiometers to an altitude of 37 km (120,000 feet). After approximately 4 hours of observation, the payload parachuted safely back to Earth.

Flight Information


Palestine 2006 Launch

ARCADE 2006 launch!

Click here to see more pictures from the 2006 flight, including in-flight video footage showing the cryogenic payload during observations and as the payload is cut down from the balloon for recovery.
Background Temperature

Results from 2006 Flight

Click here to learn about scientific results from the 2006 flight. ARCADE has detected a radio background much brighter than expected. The detected background is 5 to 10 times too bright to be explained as the combined emission from distant radio galaxies.
Balloon Inflation From 2003 Flight

Previous Flights

ARCADE has previously flown in 2001, 2003, and 2005. Click here to see some pictures from these old flights.