MSPhamfest2000

High Flying on the Prairie: 

High Flying on the Prairie Story of the North Dakota High Altitude Balloon Group http://balloons.space.edu/ Co-sponsored by: UND Space Studies & Forx Amateur Radio Club Special thanks to UND Physics Department Chris Milford KC0CRU Communications: NDHABG

Introduction: 

Introduction First steps to near space. Organization of the group. Typical mission. Room for Science. Amateur Radio contributions. Conclusions.

First steps to near space.: 

First steps to near space. Balloon group began in 1998. John Graham (Space Studies Professor) John Nordlie (Graduate of Space Studies Program) Concept grew from talk of starting high powered rocket group. Decided to use balloons as a starting point. Less expensive and a lot easier to fly. More time in air to do science. Needed more people...

The original seven: 

The original seven John Graham Project Leader.

The original seven: 

The original seven John Nordlie Computer systems integration

The original seven: 

The original seven Charlie Hofferber Electronics

The original seven: 

The original seven Blaise Mibeck Scientific Payload Engineer

The original seven: 

The original seven Chris Milford Communications

The original seven: 

The original seven Mark Rice Lead chase

The original seven: 

The original seven Dean Smith Mobile Net Control Vehicle

We’ve grown: 

We’ve grown We started with only 7 people building the payload and about 4 groups of ham chasers on the first flight, today we have over 30 people who participate in one way or another on each launch. This includes most of the members of the Forx Amateur Radio Club.

Slide12: 

Portraits of Recovery Crews. Grown from 4 with our first flight to over 6 chase cars and over a dozen individuals

Track record: 

Track record Thus far we have launched a total of 13 free flying balloons recovered the last 12 of those flights, the first being lost due to battery failure. We have also launched 5 tethered flights, and have assisted in one flight flown by the UND Electrical Engineering Department. Our success is because of the determination of the group, and skills of the Forx ARC.

Typical Mission Outline: 

Typical Mission Outline Create the concept Build the components Integrate & test components Fly the package Retrieve the payload Analyze the data Group debriefing

Create the concept: 

Create the concept All balloon flights begin with a brainstorming session where we decide on a set of goals for the next flight Includes discussion on costs and equipment.

Build the components: 

Build the components Before the mission we construct the payload as well as design the gondola. This process takes between a few nights up to a few weeks to complete.

Systems integration and testing.: 

Systems integration and testing. As the date of the launch approaches we put last minute touches on our payload, this includes integrating all systems together and testing the package.

Launch Day: 

Launch Day There are several issues involved with launching a balloon flight. Weather NOTAM Getting the gas Organizing the hams Filling the balloon Launch Chasing

Weather: 

Weather Weather must be at least 50% clear skies, no greater then 15 mile per hour ground winds and jet stream winds can not exceed 50 miles per hour.

NOTAM Notice To Airmen: 

NOTAM Notice To Airmen A day before we launch we must file a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) announcing that we will be flying a unmanned balloon through their airspace, we must notify them of the time we launch and go through commercial airspace. The regulation is knows as FAR 101. This can be found on our website.

Helium Gas: 

Helium Gas We go through a local welding supply shop to purchase our gas. Special thanks to Grand Forks Airgas for providing all our gas needs. The decision to use helium rather then hydrogen was fairly simple to make, two main factors were involved, cost and ...

Slide22: 

Hydrogen is dangerous Image credit: http://www.ttcorp.com/nha/advocate/ad22zepp.htm

Amateur Radio Organization: 

Amateur Radio Organization We would have not been able to succeed if it were not for the dedication of our local amateur radio community. We meet at the launch site and decide on which repeaters we will use, make sure everyone’s APRS system is working and protocols we will use in the event we get out of repeater range.

Balloon Fill: 

Balloon Fill We fill our balloons with helium. We have 4 different size balloons that we use depending on flight requirements. Balloons were purchased through Kaymont company. 350 gram Light payloads 1200 gram Medium payloads 3000 gram Heavy payloads 5000 gram zero pressure Long duration

Launch: 

Launch There are last minute checks and tests to make sure everyone is receiving a signal, we make sure that the servos are working for the cameras and that the cut down device is activated, then not much else remains other then to let go.

Ultimate Foxhunting: 

Ultimate Foxhunting This is the ultimate foxhunting experience because not only do we DF in azimuth but also in altitude. To make things even more difficult we aren’t confined by borders or time. We use two techniques. Traditional DF’ing with beams and mobile APRS tracking.

Slide27: 

Chase Techniques

Retrieval of the Package: 

Retrieval of the Package Many different locations At times difficult Lakes, Swamps, Fields, at night. At times easy Side of the road.

Data and Photos: 

Data and Photos Each of our balloons have at least two 35mm cameras aboard, one looking horizontal and one pointing straight down. We’ve taken over 200 pictures from altitudes ranging from a few feet all the way to over 100,000 feet. Our last flight included a camcorder which shot the video you see on the other monitor. This flight went to 98,000 feet before the batteries died. The flight itself went to 108,000 feet.

The camera payloads.: 

The camera payloads. Shown here is our camera cradle. We use a servo motor to trigger the shutter. Pictures are taken every three minutes. This is controlled through our onboard computer, also shown.

Picture Perfect: 

Picture Perfect There are a lot more photos on our web site http://balloons.space.edu/

Data: 

Data Much data has been taken from our balloons, things such as temperature vs. altitude, acceleration, and radiation measurement experiments have been flown. Radiation vs.. Altitude

Amateur Radio at 21 miles: 

Amateur Radio at 21 miles Our radio setup on board the balloon consists of an Alinco DJ-C1T FM VHF 2 meter radio, 200mW output, no external antenna. Mic-E TNC. We have one other radio aboard which is the 440 version of the same radio which is used as a simplex repeater on 445.600 MHz. The APRS data transmits on 145.600MHz. Our signal has been heard over 500 miles away.

The radio, TNC configuration.: 

The radio, TNC configuration.

Group de-briefing: 

Group de-briefing I have to include this slide, it’s the most important part to our balloon flights, that being the post flight, hotdog feed. Dr. Joanne Gabrynowicz and Prof. John Graham host the balloon group for a de-briefing and hotdog dinner after all of our launches. We believe this is at the core of our success and we will continue this tradition in our future flights.

What’s in our future?: 

What’s in our future? Next Launch: Between the nights of November 17 early morning of November 18. Leonids meteor shower. We will launch the 5000 gram zero pressure balloon and try and stay aloft 6 hours in order to collect meteor dust. 11:17:00 Very Next Launch, Oct 22, 2000 From Ray Nemoseck Farm. ~9:30AM CANCELED BAD WX

Information about the flights: 

Information about the flights Join our mailing list: contact John Graham at graham@space.edu to find out how. Keep an eye on our WebPages. http://balloons.space.edu/ Balloon radio information. Data and APRS telemetry: 145.600MHz. Simplex repeater open to anyone: 445.600MHz. We might launch a second GPS radio on the national APRS frequency 144.390 MHz in the future

Conclusions. (Even the University of North Dakota can do this.): 

Conclusions. (Even the University of North Dakota can do this.) Vision of individuals Determination of a group A well defined set of mission goals Most importantly, we always have fun doing this. How to get started: Just Do It. Come fly with us. Photo of John G. “Coaching the team for next flight” Taken at St.Francis Indian School in Rosebud SD.

Special thanks.: 

Forx Amateur Radio Club UND Space Studies Department UND Physics Department UMAC UND Electrical Engineering Department Grand Forks Airport Ray Nemoseck Doug Olsen Wally Lamb Alinco Radio Grand Forks Airgas TAPR Unysis All those who have flown before us Every ham who has helped us track these down Ryan Kramer Mike Gerszewski Tricia Johnson Folks at the Kansas Near Space Project Tom O’neil Parallax Incorporated Aware Electronics Motorola Pentax Samsung Digikey Radio Shack Kaymont Balloons GFAFB Parachute Shop WDAZ News HABLIC SONY Northern Lights Reflector Listserv. Dr. Tim Young Dr. Chuck Wood Everyone who has helped us launch. John Graham and the NDHABG John Stiles and the 80m data net Sunday and Monday night nets Jenifer Rogers Space Studies Graduate Students. Anyone else I may of forgotten Special thanks.

Ham Radio Operators: 

Ham Radio Operators John Stiles W0OSP Wally Lamb W0PHD Jim Normandin KB0IJM Dick Wright KA0HDN Jim Watt KC0XW John Engel WA0LPV Gerry Nies N0NGW Rod Klug KE0A Mark Rice KB0YRK Blaise Mibeck KC0GHM Damien Mathews KC0GHL Trish Langwost KC0ICD John Nordlie N0RNB Ron Fevig N0UCV Roger Lessard KC0CCP Jack Maus W0MBD Tom O’Neill KE0T Janet Wood KB0ZZN Chris Milford KC0CRU Gordon Fevig W0QQK Jack Cockman K4DRE Terry Hermanson KF0HR Ray Swick N0SRQ Nick Hulst AA0VY Pete Meyer N0FW Mark Smith KC8BCW Ryan Dahlberg N0OJ Larry Holm KI0W Charlie Hofferber KI0LS Ray Nemoseck KB0OGU Dean Ruedebusch KB0ACO Will Marchant KC6ROL Lynn Nelson W0CQ Dallas Buchholz KB0NDI Steve Dufault KB0QQE Jim Campbell KB0LXX Cindy Rice KC0CFQ Gordon Snarr VE4GLS Robert Baltezore KG0EQ Raymond Russell KE0DX Kevin Manke KB0UZJ Barney Isakson N0JCT Jerome Grokowsky WA9HCZ James Wannebo KB0LYP Rodney Bakke K0ALV Vern Van Wey, Jr. N0MVN Scott Rand WB0ZLX Lloyd Johnson N0VZU Dave Rogers AB0BL Charles Mc Waters KC0ACF Bruce Krogstad KB0HRF Daryl Tietz KC0CQZ Mark Motis KB0MWY Dale Bower KE0RJ Mark Schields WB0OAJ Morgan James KF0EN *All hams on the Northern Lights Reflector Mail Listserv and anyone whom I missed.

Chris R. Milford KC0CRU: 

Chris R. Milford KC0CRU chris_milford@und.nodak.edu Thank you "The calm Philosopher in Ether sails, Views broader stars and breathes in purer gales; Sees like a map in many a waving line, Round earth's blue plains her lucid waters shine; Sees at his feet the forky lightning's glow And hear innocuous Thunders roar below." Eramus Darwin, 'The Loves of the Plants' (The botanist Erasmus Darwin is Charles Darwin's Grandfather) 73 &

Any Questions?: 

Any Questions?