First light of a hard-x-ray imaging experiment: the InFOCμS balloon flight

As technological and scientific path-finder towards future observatory missions, a balloon-born hard X-ray imaging observation experiment InFOCμS has been developed. The payload has flown four times since 2000. In its 2004 Fall flight campaign InFOCμS successfully achieved first scientific observations of multiple astronomical objects from galactic compacts to cluster of galaxies. Significant signal has been detected from bright galactic objects while analysis of extragalactic objects is underway. InFOCμS plans additional and upgraded telescope-detector system as early as 2006. High energy telescope for nuclear gamma-ray line observations is under planning.