Post on 23-Dec-2015
transcript
Agenda
● Why Launch a Balloon?● High Altitude Balloon Basics● Tracking● Pictures and video● Recovery● Other Info and Resources
Why Launch a Balloon
● Get pictures from space● Track via APRS from high
altitudes● Foxhunt hidden transmitter ● The challenge of it; Global
Space Balloon Challenge
High Altitude Balloon Basics
Safety First!
Basic Steps Build - Launch - Flight - Recover - Report
Typical configurationLatex Balloon (Helium or Hydrogen)ParachuteRadar ReflectorPayload
KC9EHO-11 Launch 20-Sep-2014
Basics: Payload
Our payload consists of:
●Styrofoam Cooler●Tracking Equipment (APRS, SPOT, Foxhunt Beacon)●Cameras (Video and Time-Lapse)
Basics: Where am I going to Land?Predictions will get you close, but not an exact science.
Our favorite prediction site:http://predict.habhub.org/
You can run models out 180 hours from the current time.
Tracking: APRS
Our Hardware Configuration: GPS/Tracker/Radio
GPS: Not all GPS receivers are equal! You need a GPS which will work over 18km altitude
Byonics GPS4 Tracker: Argent Data Opentracker (OT1 rev4 on Launch 1) (OT USB on Launch 2)Radio: Baofeng UV-5R , stock battery, homebrew 2m dipole
See Resources page for other options, self contained tracking units, etc.
Tracking: APRS
Tracker ConfigurationProfile 1:Alt <= 2996 ft beacon every 63 seconds, use path WIDE 1-1, WIDE2-1 This gives you the best chance at getting to an i-GateMore beacons helps in recovery
Profile 2:Alt > 2996 ft beacon every 87 seconds, no path No need to relay, you will be heard by multiple i-Gates at this altitude!
Tracking: Foxhunt Beacon
Launch 2:
Contained a 50mW voice beacon for tracking 20 seconds on / 40 seconds off
SquawkBox T-hunt Transmitter with voice record/playback
http://www.silcom.com/~pelican2/PicoDopp/MICROHUNT.htm#SQBX
Pictures and Video:
Current: Local Stored pictures and videoSD card needs to be retrieved
Future: Slow Scan Images or Fast Scan TV Weight is a concern, hardware to do this is becoming more affordable and lightweight
Pictures and Video: Launch 1
●Sony AS30V Action Cam1080p 60 fps, mp4 format - battery ran out before balloon burstFogging was an issue
●Raspberry Pi Model B with Camera Module 5MP, time lapse every 60 seconds, JPEG
SD cards recovered 4 months after flight, data intact
Pictures and Video: Launch 2
● Sony AS20V Action CamVentilated case, 1080p 60 fps, mp4 format
● Monoprice Action Cam 2.0 5MP, time-lapse picture every 10 seconds, JPEG
● Raspberry Pi Model B+ with Camera Module and Adafruit GPS Hat
5MP, time lapse (5 pictures) + 15 seconds 1080p video every 60 seconds, JPEG, custom Python script to collect and embed GPS data into pictures
RecoveryTracking systems will get you close, but you still need to walk and get it!
We were fortunate to get aerial footage of the march from hams who are pilots.
Launch 1 landed in a marsh outside Madison 35+ man-hours of searching!1.Launch Day: Joe, Dave, Lee, Sam, Mark, Steve (3+ hours) Sep 20142.Lee and Sam Turner (3 hours)3.Joe and Dave, with Mark and Duane drone support (3 hours)4.Joe Dave, Bill, Brian, Rich (1 hour) - Feb 2015 after marsh had frozen
Biggest lesson learned:If you can’t see it, research landing site before heading out.
RecoveryPrepare for many possibilities:●Land●Water●Mud●Marsh●Trees
You might get dirty!
Seek permission FIRST if you land on private property!
Future Launch ideas:
● Live video feed from balloon● Two-way communication with balloon● Data collection: Temp inside/outside, Barometric
pressure, radiation, other sensors● Simplex or cross-band repeaters● Launch over Lake Michigan, have another team
retrieve on east side of lake● IR or UV cameras
Our Information
Shameless plug for our social media sites:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WisconsinHAB/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf9PmBcN6yF0xi6rV2_gSwA
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/106427591220082664968/posts
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WisconsinHAB/
Email: wisconsin.hab@gmail.com
We are also on hab-ham.org and the arhab.org schedule.
Resources 1APRS and Tracking UnitsByonics http://byonics.com/Argent Data http://www.argentdata.com/Big Red Bee http://www.bigredbee.com/
WB6EYV MicroHunt Foxhunting Transmitter
http://www.west.net/~marvin/microhnt.htm
FAA Regulations
PART 101—MOORED BALLOONS, KITES, AMATEUR ROCKETS AND UNMANNED FREE BALLOONS
http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?rgn=div5&node=14:2.0.1.3.15
Resources 2Other groups doing launchesPeoria Amateur Radio Club http://www.w9uvi.org/Edge of Space Sciences http://www.eoss.org/Global Space Balloon Challenge https://www.balloonchallenge.org/
Other Useful Web Sites
http://www.highaltitudescience.com/pages/how-to-inflate-a-weather-balloonhttp://www.highaltballoon.com/homehttp://www.projectaether.org/main/education/balloon-inflation.htmlhttp://www.nearspaceballooning.com/http://www.highaltitudescience.com/