PAPPA is a balloon borne mission that will study the cosmic microwave background. It will measure a 20º x 20°  patch of sky near the North Celestial Pole at an angular resolution of half a degree and polarization sensitivity of 1.9μK.  This suborbital technique allows the telescope to observe the universe with less atmospheric interference and greater resolution than on Earth's surface, while remaining much more economic than a satellite mission. The goals of PAPPA are:

·To measure the polarization of the cosmic microwave background

·To detect the imprint of gravity waves, which should exist according to the inflationary model of the universe

·To develop new technology for a space based mission (Beyond Einstein Inflation Probe) which uses low-power, broad-band switched signal processing on a cold focal plane. This instrumentation, called a "polarimeter on a chip" combines the techniques of phase modulation used in radio astronomy with the sensitivity of a TES bolometer.

PAPPA is one of several missions being developed to measure polarization and detect gravity waves. However it is the only one to develop new technology suitable for NASA's Beyond Einstein Inflation Probe a proposed satellite mission follow up to COBE and WMAP.

To learn more about NASA's Beyond Einstein Program or previous CMB missions click here:

Beyond Einstein

WMAP

COBE