Full Version: High altitude balloon payload
Didn't catch sight of this guy by any chance, did you?
Classic example of evolution in action... 
(Shouldn't make light of a tragedy, but, c'mon...can anyone realistically say that the outcome was unexpected?!)
I just can't summon up much pity for people who take such enormous risks for no apparent reason other then self-indulgence of whatever nature; you pays your money & you takes your chances. I just hope nobody was hurt or killed during the rescue/recovery ops, and frankly that's what really ticks me off about these stunts.
For example, the following scenario plays itself out with depressing regularity: Some fools decide to climb a mountain in bad weather, end up needing to be rescued, and one or more of the rescuers are hurt or even killed in the effort, to say nothing of the money & resources expended. This guy should've been required to post at least a $1 mil bond to cover potential rescue operations before he was allowed to lift off.
(Shouldn't make light of a tragedy, but, c'mon...can anyone realistically say that the outcome was unexpected?!) I just can't summon up much pity for people who take such enormous risks for no apparent reason other then self-indulgence of whatever nature; you pays your money & you takes your chances. I just hope nobody was hurt or killed during the rescue/recovery ops, and frankly that's what really ticks me off about these stunts.
For example, the following scenario plays itself out with depressing regularity: Some fools decide to climb a mountain in bad weather, end up needing to be rescued, and one or more of the rescuers are hurt or even killed in the effort, to say nothing of the money & resources expended. This guy should've been required to post at least a $1 mil bond to cover potential rescue operations before he was allowed to lift off.
I was in amazement when the priest phoned to police station from a small town in Brazil asking on how to use the GPS so that they can ubicate him!
Horror!
Horror!
Well, we're all gonna die someday. My personal objective is not to do so foolishly, and of course not to endanger the lives of others in the process. (Frankly, 150 years old in bed with satellite TV & broadband Internet access sounds like a worthy goal...)
Best I could manage.
Also - put this into a plain text doc, and save it as FHALP2.kml - and it will show the track in Google Earth
Doug
Also - put this into a plain text doc, and save it as FHALP2.kml - and it will show the track in Google Earth
CODE
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.2">
<Document>
<name>FHALP-2</name>
<description>Flight Path</description>
<Style id="yellowLineGreenPoly">
<LineStyle>
<color>7f00ffff</color>
<width>4</width>
</LineStyle>
<PolyStyle>
<color>7f00ff00</color>
</PolyStyle>
</Style>
<Placemark>
<name>Absolute Extruded</name>
<description>Transparent green wall with yellow outlines</description>
<styleUrl>#yellowLineGreenPoly</styleUrl>
<LineString>
<extrude>1</extrude>
<tessellate>1</tessellate>
<altitudeMode>absolute</altitudeMode>
<coordinates>
-0.092153,52.251855,53.3
-0.095018,52.25504,490.6
-0.099425,52.262608,990.0
-0.106652,52.269028,1487.9
-0.108017,52.272517,2032.7
-0.105082,52.275055,2571.0
-0.10243,52.277088,3089.0
-0.098177,52.280335,3648.4
-0.094415,52.280095,4203.3
-0.087797,52.278503,4754.2
-0.082655,52.276082,5284.2
-0.075252,52.274807,5842.9
-0.066357,52.272615,6373.8
-0.057512,52.270577,6941.8
-0.050978,52.269398,7507.0
-0.045985,52.267428,8102.5
-0.040037,52.264032,8695.3
-0.031882,52.258668,9348.6
-0.026875,52.258317,10020.5
-0.022673,52.259387,10704.9
-0.018747,52.259537,11399.7
-0.013763,52.260188,10078.6
-0.006772,52.25733,8802.7
-0.000268,52.254915,7527.9
0.008457,52.252997,6378.8
0.015442,52.251082,5253.8
0.020585,52.24862,4210.0
0.022993,52.249298,3191.5
0.025522,52.251703,2215.4
0.023407,52.255915,1287.1
0.015588,52.264823,20.6
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</LineString>
</Placemark>
</Document>
</kml>
<kml xmlns="http://earth.google.com/kml/2.2">
<Document>
<name>FHALP-2</name>
<description>Flight Path</description>
<Style id="yellowLineGreenPoly">
<LineStyle>
<color>7f00ffff</color>
<width>4</width>
</LineStyle>
<PolyStyle>
<color>7f00ff00</color>
</PolyStyle>
</Style>
<Placemark>
<name>Absolute Extruded</name>
<description>Transparent green wall with yellow outlines</description>
<styleUrl>#yellowLineGreenPoly</styleUrl>
<LineString>
<extrude>1</extrude>
<tessellate>1</tessellate>
<altitudeMode>absolute</altitudeMode>
<coordinates>
-0.092153,52.251855,53.3
-0.095018,52.25504,490.6
-0.099425,52.262608,990.0
-0.106652,52.269028,1487.9
-0.108017,52.272517,2032.7
-0.105082,52.275055,2571.0
-0.10243,52.277088,3089.0
-0.098177,52.280335,3648.4
-0.094415,52.280095,4203.3
-0.087797,52.278503,4754.2
-0.082655,52.276082,5284.2
-0.075252,52.274807,5842.9
-0.066357,52.272615,6373.8
-0.057512,52.270577,6941.8
-0.050978,52.269398,7507.0
-0.045985,52.267428,8102.5
-0.040037,52.264032,8695.3
-0.031882,52.258668,9348.6
-0.026875,52.258317,10020.5
-0.022673,52.259387,10704.9
-0.018747,52.259537,11399.7
-0.013763,52.260188,10078.6
-0.006772,52.25733,8802.7
-0.000268,52.254915,7527.9
0.008457,52.252997,6378.8
0.015442,52.251082,5253.8
0.020585,52.24862,4210.0
0.022993,52.249298,3191.5
0.025522,52.251703,2215.4
0.023407,52.255915,1287.1
0.015588,52.264823,20.6
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</Document>
</kml>
Doug
Successful launch, and recovery of FHALP3 today. Flight computer seemed to burp it's way from about 500m altitude till recovery - no real data on board, or real time tracking - but - it sent an SMS on landing with it's lat/long, and it was recovered, 67km ENE of the launch site after a flight time of approx 1hr 45mins. No idea on the peak altitude yet - as no proper data on the flight computer. They were trying a dual stage balloon design - an over inflated, and a lower inflation balloon, with the over inflated designed to punch thru the jet stream, cut down, and then the lower pressure to take over...the 'mess' on landing was one burst balloon (high pressure) and one deflated balloon ( low pressure). Personally, I think the high pressure burst, and then damaged the low pressure causing a leak, so that it carried on a little more, before descending. As the flight computer was dead for the entire flight, the cut-down never happened.
Similar camera design to last time ( hence, on the ground at recovery, i said ' You're camera work is CRAP - we have to talk about it!'
Similar camera design to last time ( hence, on the ground at recovery, i said ' You're camera work is CRAP - we have to talk about it!'
A few mosaics from yesterday afternoon.
Landing site : http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=52.332,0.888
Launch Site : http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=52.2513,-0.092
Landing site : http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=52.332,0.888
Launch Site : http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=52.2513,-0.092
A vid of the inflation, the launch, and then tracking out to 20 minutes during the flight.
http://www.rlproject.com/fhalp3/
Doug
http://www.rlproject.com/fhalp3/
Doug
hm one interesting question
If i go with balloon on 120.000 ft and then just "left" payload but with only 10 grams How much time will be needed to come back to Earth?
(just small box for example)
(offcourse without parachute) :s
If i go with balloon on 120.000 ft and then just "left" payload but with only 10 grams How much time will be needed to come back to Earth?
(just small box for example)
(offcourse without parachute) :s
Well - you would need to calculate it's drag, it's cross-sectional area, etc etc.
Live video stream from a US high altitude balloon launch now running at http://www.batc.tv/ch_live.php for those who are interested
Launch expected at 15:30UTC / 16:30 BST (2009.04.11)
Rob
Launch expected at 15:30UTC / 16:30 BST (2009.04.11)
Rob
No no - they found it
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/conten...s_feature.shtml
The CU Spaceflight guys helped them out - hopefully Ed will get to taste THE SPACE CHEESE
True story - in double blind tests 9/10 people preferred port that had been up to 30k and back to a non-flown control.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/conten...s_feature.shtml
The CU Spaceflight guys helped them out - hopefully Ed will get to taste THE SPACE CHEESE
True story - in double blind tests 9/10 people preferred port that had been up to 30k and back to a non-flown control.
No question about it: That brave Space Cheese really did cut the mustard!
(Yeah, don't shove...I'm leaving, I'm leaving!)
(Yeah, don't shove...I'm leaving, I'm leaving!)
Another one or is it the same as above?
Anyway they claim it costs $150 and reached 93.000 ft: http://space.1337arts.com/
Anyway they claim it costs $150 and reached 93.000 ft: http://space.1337arts.com/
Pah - 93kft. 100+ is where the fun starts
Lots of teams now doing this. The Cambridge boys almost had a launch this w'end - but they needed a bit more dev time on their 2.0 avionics board.
Lots of teams now doing this. The Cambridge boys almost had a launch this w'end - but they needed a bit more dev time on their 2.0 avionics board.
Using my Yaesu FT817 and a dualband monopole about 3m off the ground - I was able to succesfully receive RTTY from two payloads yesterday - Icarus and Xaben
One string received, for example:
M6DGE : icarus,708,13:09:45,52.244063,0.693690,30691,94.45,113.5,5.6,-3.7*28
http://www.robertharrison.org/listen/view.php
I'm this listed on http://www.robertharrison.org/listen/loggers.php
M6DGE 2009-11-07 14:13:42 52.60 -1.15 FT817 MOONRAKER 26 2009-11-07 13:08:33
I only got 26 packets in, as I could only get out to the shed about 10 seconds before the first payload burst.
BUT - I now know the system works, and just my £49 monopole from Moonraker could easily hear and decode 10mw at a range of around 140km. The antenna is going to be mounted higher in the future - possibly a deployable mast ( so I can always change hardware ) or on the roof of the house.
One string received, for example:
M6DGE : icarus,708,13:09:45,52.244063,0.693690,30691,94.45,113.5,5.6,-3.7*28
http://www.robertharrison.org/listen/view.php
I'm this listed on http://www.robertharrison.org/listen/loggers.php
M6DGE 2009-11-07 14:13:42 52.60 -1.15 FT817 MOONRAKER 26 2009-11-07 13:08:33
I only got 26 packets in, as I could only get out to the shed about 10 seconds before the first payload burst.
BUT - I now know the system works, and just my £49 monopole from Moonraker could easily hear and decode 10mw at a range of around 140km. The antenna is going to be mounted higher in the future - possibly a deployable mast ( so I can always change hardware ) or on the roof of the house.
Possibly off topic (admins move this to Chit Chat if so), and apologies to those in the UK if you have seen this already, but a cool video nonetheless:
Space Chair
Space Chair
BallastHalo3 launching in a few hours. Should fly south across the UK testing ballast dropping method for a potential zero-pressure balloon for a trans atlantic attempt. I hope to get home in time to track the later part of the flight.
http://ukhas.org.uk/guides:tracking_guide
Raw packets here - http://www.robertharrison.org/listen/view.php (look out for M6DGE, that's me)
Tracked data hopefully here - http://spacenear.us/tracker/
Log of loggers here - http://www.robertharrison.org/listen/loggers.php
http://ukhas.org.uk/guides:tracking_guide
Raw packets here - http://www.robertharrison.org/listen/view.php (look out for M6DGE, that's me)
Tracked data hopefully here - http://spacenear.us/tracker/
Log of loggers here - http://www.robertharrison.org/listen/loggers.php
Payload away - I'll be home in an hr to hopefully do some tracking
Currently getting good packets from 213km range on 10mW Sweet!
Yagi's just jammed in the window - not even on a good bearing and there's buildings in the way
Sweet!Yagi's just jammed in the window - not even on a good bearing and there's buildings in the way
So, it's off to parts unknown? I hope there was no intention of ever recovering the payload.
EDIT: From the latest turn to the East, I should ask if there are any mission crew in France.
Click to view attachment
EDIT: From the latest turn to the East, I should ask if there are any mission crew in France.
Click to view attachment
Leaning out the window - one packet at a time - I managed to get 339km range. going to try and see if I can do better, but not hopefull
I got it to 48.8570,0.2401 - 427km
It burst not long later.
It burst not long later.
While watching Doug's video, I stumbled across this project:
http://www.ntexbp.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTOCy7Q7Cug...feature=related
"North Texas Balloon Project (NTEXBP) is planned for launch about 8:30 am on August 8, 2009 from the municipal airport in Hillsboro, Texas, just south of Fort Worth and Dallas. Two payload packages containing sensors and amateur radios will be carried to nearly 100,000 feet in about 90 minutes by a helium balloon and return via parachute in about 50 minutes. Mobile recovery teams will use position reports from the onboard GPS and APRS transmitter on 144.390 MHz and radio direction finding techniques to recover the payloads.
... A cross band repeater will be activated soon after launch. Uplink is 445.800 MHz and downlink is 147.560 MHz. At the peak altitude ham radio operators can contact each other using the cross band repeater. The radios used normally have a range of about 5 to 10 miles, but that range will be extended to about 500 miles at the peak altitude."
It wasn't a smooth flight. "All packages functioned as expected until near 90,000 feet. At that time we lost contact with all packages. Ten minutes later some of the hunters heard the two meter beacon much like we hear when it is on the ground. After a few minutes of hunting the packages were recovered."
http://www.ntexbp.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTOCy7Q7Cug...feature=related
"North Texas Balloon Project (NTEXBP) is planned for launch about 8:30 am on August 8, 2009 from the municipal airport in Hillsboro, Texas, just south of Fort Worth and Dallas. Two payload packages containing sensors and amateur radios will be carried to nearly 100,000 feet in about 90 minutes by a helium balloon and return via parachute in about 50 minutes. Mobile recovery teams will use position reports from the onboard GPS and APRS transmitter on 144.390 MHz and radio direction finding techniques to recover the payloads.
... A cross band repeater will be activated soon after launch. Uplink is 445.800 MHz and downlink is 147.560 MHz. At the peak altitude ham radio operators can contact each other using the cross band repeater. The radios used normally have a range of about 5 to 10 miles, but that range will be extended to about 500 miles at the peak altitude."
It wasn't a smooth flight. "All packages functioned as expected until near 90,000 feet. At that time we lost contact with all packages. Ten minutes later some of the hunters heard the two meter beacon much like we hear when it is on the ground. After a few minutes of hunting the packages were recovered."
There are a LOT of projects like it around the world.
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