Tethered Balloon (Kytoon) Launch Programme for Atmospheric and Meteorological Observation

The Tethered Balloon (Kytoon) Launch Programme for Atmospheric and Meteorological Observations was jointly organised by the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), Department of Space, Government of India, and the Department of Physics, Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) from 8th to 11th January 2021 at the main campus of ADBU, Assam. The programme aimed to perform vertical profiling of atmospheric aerosols and key meteorological parameters to improve understanding of atmospheric structure, boundary-layer processes, and aerosol–cloud interactions over the North Eastern region. A hydrogen-filled kytoon fitted with atmospheric science payloads, meteorological sensors, and GPS sondes was launched multiple times daily, enabling high-resolution measurements of temperature, humidity, pressure, and aerosol characteristics. The event featured a live demonstration and scientific presentation by Dr. Arup Borgohain, Scientist-SE, NESAC, and saw active participation from undergraduate and postgraduate students, faculty members, and NESAC scientists. The programme significantly strengthened ADBU–NESAC collaboration, provided hands-on training in advanced atmospheric observation techniques, and facilitated student internship selections, thereby enhancing research-oriented learning and institutional capacity in atmospheric and space sciences.