High Altitude Imaging and Atmospheric Data Collection

Experiment

by

SABRE(Scientific Aerospace and Balloon Research Engineers)

Team Advisor: Atin SinhaTeam Leader: Ashle’ PerryTeam Member: Jeremy Robinson Team Member: Nedgby Marcelin

22

Mission Goal

Acquire pressure & temperature data from sea level to stratosphere

Compare the data with that predicted by standard atmospheric model

Compare the data with the recorded value by weather balloon launched same day

Identify possible causes if any variance is observed

33

Mission Objectives

Launch payload from the ground to about 33 km into the atmosphere

Record temperature and pressure data as well as video images

Retrieve the data for post-flight analysis

Compare the data with standard model and experimentally observed data

Make a presentation to the PACER staff

44

Science Objectives

Verify the trend of temperature and pressure variation with altitude as predicted by standard atmospheric model

Compare the observed temperature and pressure with the recorded data in the region on the day of experiment

Determine the variation of the container surface temperature with the ambient temperature

Determine the height of the tropopause and how far it extends

Account for unexpected changes in temperature due to albedo

55Science Requirements

Record the ambient and surface temperature from -75º C to 35º C every 15 seconds with an accuracy of 0.5º C

Record pressure from above 1000 mb to near vacuum every 15 seconds with an accuracy of 5 mb

Record time synchronized with temperature and pressure recording

Record altitude synchronized with the rest of the data

Record video images of earth’s surface extending to horizon to provide any visual clue for discrepancy in expected result

66Standard Atmospheric Model(Temperature)

77Standard Atmospheric Model(Pressure)

88Summer Temperature Changes at Ft. Worth in 2009

99

Technical Objectives

Record the temperature, and pressure data

Record video images

Build payload that can withstand the environmental conditions of the upper atmosphere (up to about 33 km), and survive landing

Stay within project financial budget

Provide power to the payload for at least 4 hours

Complete PDR, CDR, and FRR on schedule

1010Technical Requirements

Equip the payload with two temperature and one pressure sensors to

be able to measure -75º C to 35º C and 1000 to 6 mb respectively

Provide a real time clock to time stamp the data

Install a video camera to continuously record the image

Maintain the interior temperature of the payload above -20º C

Write all information on a non-volatile memory microchip

Use sturdy, lightweight material to construct the payload so that it can survive the environmental condition of upper atmosphere and survive rough landing

Provide lightweight, inexpensive powersupply for the duration of flight (about 4 hours)

Develop and follow a detailed project management schedule to complete the project in a timely fashion and within budget

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Project ActivitiesElectrical Circuit DesignSensors and Control Power SupplySoftware Design and PrototypingMechanical Design and Thermal ControlFabrication and Environmental TestingData Acquisition, Testing and Validation Launch ActivitiesPost flight Data Processing and AnalysisDocumentation and Presentation

1212

Mechanical Design

13

Payload Design13

1414

Payload Design

Is a hexagonal foam structure with the following components securely mounted on a sliding partition:

BalloonSat board

Sensor board mounted piggy back

Video camera

2 Battery packs

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External structure15

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Internal Structure16

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Payload Support17

1818

Thermal Design

1919

Thermal DesignDuring the course of the Balloon flight the payload is going to

travel through the Troposphere, the Tropopause, and the Stratosphere.

While traveling through these levels in the atmosphere our payload will encounter temperatures ranging from approximately -60°C to 20°C.

The payload will also have to encounter pressures ranging from approximately 100,000 pascals to 1000 pascals.

In addition our payload box will encounter small amounts of shortwave radiation, also called albedo..

2020

Thermal Calculations

Insulation Power Surface Material Inner Outer Emissivity Conductivity Absorbtion

Thickness (m) (W)

area (m)   Temp °C Temp °C   (W/mK)  

0.02 0 0.065aluminum

foil -18.1 -18.1 0.05 0.08 0.05

0.02 0.5 0.065aluminum

foil -1.2 -3 0.05 0.08 0.05

0.02 1 0.065aluminum

foil 14.7 11.1 0.05 0.08 0.05

0.02 1.5 0.065aluminum

foil 29.8 24.3 0.05 0.08 0.05

0.02 2 0.065aluminum

foil 44.1 36.8 0.05 0.08 0.05

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Thermal Dynamics Plot21

2222

Weight Table

 

Components Weight (g)Uncertainty

(g)

BalloonSat 69 +0

BalloonSat Battery pack 62 +1

Camera Battery Pack 43 +1

(Wires/cables/sensors/screws/boards) 15 +1

BalloonSat with extra sensor board 115 +1

Camera 106 +0

Box/insulation 98 +1

     

Total 508 +5

2323

Electrical and System Design

2424Electrical Design

2525

Power Supply

2626

Power Budget

Component Voltage(V) Current (mA)

Duration (H) Power (mW) Capacity (mA-hr)

BalloonSat 12 55 4 660 220Camera 5 500 3 1500 1500

Temperature Sensor

Circuitry12 4.3 4 51.6 17.2

Pressure Sensor

Circuitry12 3.7 4 44.4 14.8

Total Excluding

Camera12 63 4 756 252

Total 12563

42256 1752

2727Power Discharge for Main Battery Pack

Discharge Plot from Kodak.com

Plot relating discharge to temperature from Kodak.com

2828

Power Discharge for Camera Battery Pack

Discharge Plot from Energizer.com

― Room Temperature ― 0ºC ― -21ºC

2929Sensor Circuit Board Board

3030

Software Design

3131Data Event FormattingDescription Data type size(bits) size(byte)10's of months Nibble 4 0.5

1's of months Nibble 4 0.5

10's of dates Nibble 4 0.5

1's of dates Nibble 4 0.5

10's of hours Nibble 4 0.5

1's of hours Nibble 4 0.5

10's of minutes Nibble 4 0.5

1's of minutes Nibble 4 0.5

10's of seconds Nibble 4 0.5

1's of seconds Nibble 4 0.5

Pressure sensor Byte 8 1

Temperaturesensor A Byte 8 1

Temperaturesensor B Byte 8 1

TOTAL N/A 64 8

3232

Flight Software

3333

System Testing Results

3434

Vacuum Testing

3535

Thermal Testing

3636

Shock Testing

3737

Calibrations

3838Pressure Sensor Calibration

3939Temperature Sensor A Calibration

4040

Temperature Sensor B Calibration

4141

Data Acquisition and Analysis Plan

4242Ground Software Implementation and

Verification

BASIC Stamp programming software

Term 232 software

Microsoft Media Player software

Microsoft Notepad software

Graphical Analysis software

Microsoft Excel software

Data Analysis

44

Flight Profile

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1000015000200002500030000350004000045000500005500060000650007000075000800008500090000

0:00:00 0:28:48 0:57:36 1:26:24 1:55:12 2:24:00

Flight Time (H:M:S)

Alt

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(ft

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Pressure Profile

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Altitude (ft)

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Comparison of Temperature (Ascent vs. Descent)

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-80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40

Temperature (Deg C)

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Ascent Descent

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Comparison of Balloon Data with Ft. Worth Data and Standard Atmospheric Data

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-80.0 -70.0 -60.0 -50.0 -40.0 -30.0 -20.0 -10.0 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0

Temperature (Deg C)

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tude

(m)

Standard Atmosphere Ft. Worth Data Balloon Data

49Comparison of Balloon Data with Ft. Worth and Standard Atmospheric Data

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0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200Pressure (mb)

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Standard Atmosphere Ft. Worth Data Balloon Data

5050Team SABRE: Albany State University

51

Questions ???