Project FREDE as a Stratospheric Experiment with Semi-Autonomus Control System

In this paper, the main goal of project FREDE (FREon Decay Experiment) have been presented. It aim is to study the disintegration phenomenon of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s). As radiatively active gases present in the Troposphere and Stratosphere they influence the depletion of the Earth’s ozone layer and the increase in the greenhouse effect. This experiment consisting of test samples reservoir exposed to low and high altitude (<=25 km) conditions is designed to collect information about CFC’s decay process, especially its chemical products due to dedicated on-board measurement chamber. A measurement system based on dedicated Photo-ionization Detector (PID), selected Taguchi Gas Sensors (TGS) and selected set of environmental sensors typical for stratospheric balloon flights (ex. Temp, Pressure as well as UV and ionization radiation sensors) are crucial source of information for CFC decay process on board of FREDE experiment. Internal architecture of on-board system is essential part of this paper.