https://wiki.hackpgh.org/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Gary&feedformat=atomHackPittsburgh Wiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T09:39:11ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.38.2https://wiki.hackpgh.org/index.php?title=The_Flight_of_HackPittsburgh%27s_C1_Balloon&diff=2063The Flight of HackPittsburgh's C1 Balloon2013-08-01T19:13:30Z<p>Gary: /* Images */</p>
<hr />
<div>=== Launch ===<br />
<br />
The balloon was launched at 13:15 EST on November 11, 2012 from Gerstenslager Park near Wooster, OH [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=40.814037N+81.913269W Google Maps]<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_launch1.jpg]] [[File: C1_launch2.jpg]]<br />
<br />
=== Flight Path and Tracking ===<br />
<br />
During the flight the position of the balloon was tracked by a ham radio system called [http://www.aprs.org APRS]. A device on the balloon received the balloon's position using GPS and transmitted the position via data packets transmitted on 144.39 MHz.<br />
<br />
When the balloon chase vehicles are close to the balloon the tracking signals can be received directly by equipment in the vehicles. However, the transmitter on the balloon has an output power of only 300 milliwatts (to reduce the size of the battery needed). This limits the range at which the balloon's tracking signals can be directly received.<br />
<br />
Shortly after launch, as the crew took a lunch break at a Wendy's near the launch site, the balloon encountered jet stream winds and started traveling at 90 MPH. Because of this speed and the time it took for the crew to eat, the balloon quickly travelled beyond the range at which the chase vehicles could directly receive the tracking signals.<br />
<br />
Fortunately the ham radio community provides an infrastructure that extends the range of '''APRS''' transmitters. This infrastructure consists of two types of stations:<br />
<br />
1. '''Digipeaters''' A digipeater ("digital repeater") is an '''APRS''' station that receives transmissions from other '''APRS''' stations and repeats them. Digipeaters are typically located in high locations such as radio towers, and can significantly extend the range over which the position reports from an '''APRS''' station can be received.<br />
<br />
2. '''iGates''' An iGate receives transmission reports from '''APRS''' station and forwards them via the internet to various internet servers, which store the transmissions and allow the data to be displayed by any internet connected computer.<br />
<br />
As the crew finished lunch and resumed chasing the balloon we were about 80 miles behind the balloon, which was heading east along a path that roughly followed Interstate 80. Thanks to the '''APRS''' digipeaters and iGates provided by fellow ham radio operators, we were able to follow the track of the balloon on our cell phones and tablets via the internet. This worked well during the ascent portion of the flight. At 14:27 EST the balloon reached its maximum altitude of 111,759 feet and burst, beginning it's descent. As the descent began we received two '''APRS''' position reports from 102,264 feet and 95,486 feet.<br />
<br />
For reasons that are still unknown we then stopped receiving '''APRS''' data from the balloon for 25 minutes. This made the chase crew apprehensive, since without accurate position information we would not be able to find the landing site of the balloon. Except for the position data transmitted by '''APRS''', all of the experiment payloads on this flight recorded their data on board. If we did not recover the balloon we would not even have any interesting data to show for all of our efforts. (For future balloon flights we plan to send experiment results via ham radio during the flight, so we will have data even if the balloon is not recovered).<br />
<br />
The chase vehicles continued east on Interstate 80 along the last known path of the balloon. We were getting quite dejected, since 25 minutes is close to the expected descent time. If the balloon were already on the ground without having transmitted it's position to the '''APRS''' internet servers we might never find it.<br />
<br />
Suddenly we received two final '''APRS''' position reports via the internet; one from approximately 2000 feet above ground level, and one from 1000 feet. Since the balloon was now near the ground this gave us knowledge of where the balloon would land within a few hundred feet. <br />
<br />
We received no further position reports via the internet. This was expected; when the balloon is below about 2000 feet above ground level it is unlikely the '''APRS''' signals will reach an iGate do to the low power of the onboard transmitter.<br />
<br />
This is a screen shot from an '''APRS''' internet server showing the position reports that were received during the balloon flight. The green line east of Younstown is the 25 minute period during which no '''APRS''' data from the balloon was received by the internet servers.<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_flight_path.jpg]]<br />
<br />
The approximate landing location was in northwest Pennsylvania very close to the intersections of Interstate 80 and Interstate 376. Our next fear was we might receive position reports traveling east toward New Jersey at 70 MPH on the top of some truck!<br />
<br />
Fortunately that did not happen. As we approached the intersection near the position reports we began to receive '''APRS''' data from the balloon payload directly on 144.39 MHz via receivers in the chase vehicles. The received position was transferred to a handheld GPS unit, which lead us to 60 feet from the tree the balloon payload had landed in.<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_tree.jpg]]<br />
<br />
== Experiment Results ==<br />
=== Altitude and Vertical Speed ===<br />
During the ascent the balloon rose at a fairly constant 13 MPH. At 111,759 feet the balloon burst and the payload began to descend rapidly, reaching a maximum descent rate of 163 MPH at an altitude of 93, 460 feet. As the balloon descended below that altitude the vertical speed decreased steadily due to the increasing air density. The vertical speed at landing was 36 MPH.<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_altitude.png]] [[File: C1_vert_speed.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_vert_speed_vs_hgt.png]]<br />
<br />
=== Air Temperature ===<br />
The minimum ambient air temperature was -61 Celsius, and occurred at an altitude of 52,236 feet. Above that altitude the temperature increased due to solar heating of the upper atmosphere.<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_temp.png]] [[File: C1_temp_vs_hgt.png]] <br />
<br />
== Images ==<br />
<br />
'''More to come !!!'''<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_onboard.jpg]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Lift-off'''<br />
<br />
[[File:IMAGE139.JPG]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Max Altitude'''<br />
<br />
[[File:IMAGE335.JPG]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Looking at Sun at Max Altitude'''<br />
<br />
[[File:IMAGE334.JPG]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Landing Site in View @ 2600 feet'''<br />
<br />
[[File:IMAGE374.JPG]]<br />
<br />
<br />
'''The Launch Crew'''<br />
<br />
[[File:IMAGE563.JPG]]</div>Garyhttps://wiki.hackpgh.org/index.php?title=File:IMAGE563.JPG&diff=2062File:IMAGE563.JPG2013-08-01T19:05:28Z<p>Gary: The Launch Crew</p>
<hr />
<div>The Launch Crew</div>Garyhttps://wiki.hackpgh.org/index.php?title=File:IMAGE335.JPG&diff=2061File:IMAGE335.JPG2013-08-01T19:02:51Z<p>Gary: Max Altitude</p>
<hr />
<div>Max Altitude</div>Garyhttps://wiki.hackpgh.org/index.php?title=File:IMAGE334.JPG&diff=2060File:IMAGE334.JPG2013-08-01T19:00:14Z<p>Gary: Looking at Sun @ Max Altitude</p>
<hr />
<div>Looking at Sun @ Max Altitude</div>Garyhttps://wiki.hackpgh.org/index.php?title=File:IMAGE139.JPG&diff=2059File:IMAGE139.JPG2013-08-01T18:55:58Z<p>Gary: Lift-off</p>
<hr />
<div>Lift-off</div>Garyhttps://wiki.hackpgh.org/index.php?title=The_Flight_of_HackPittsburgh%27s_C1_Balloon&diff=2058The Flight of HackPittsburgh's C1 Balloon2013-08-01T16:19:46Z<p>Gary: /* Images */</p>
<hr />
<div>=== Launch ===<br />
<br />
The balloon was launched at 13:15 EST on November 11, 2012 from Gerstenslager Park near Wooster, OH [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=40.814037N+81.913269W Google Maps]<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_launch1.jpg]] [[File: C1_launch2.jpg]]<br />
<br />
=== Flight Path and Tracking ===<br />
<br />
During the flight the position of the balloon was tracked by a ham radio system called [http://www.aprs.org APRS]. A device on the balloon received the balloon's position using GPS and transmitted the position via data packets transmitted on 144.39 MHz.<br />
<br />
When the balloon chase vehicles are close to the balloon the tracking signals can be received directly by equipment in the vehicles. However, the transmitter on the balloon has an output power of only 300 milliwatts (to reduce the size of the battery needed). This limits the range at which the balloon's tracking signals can be directly received.<br />
<br />
Shortly after launch, as the crew took a lunch break at a Wendy's near the launch site, the balloon encountered jet stream winds and started traveling at 90 MPH. Because of this speed and the time it took for the crew to eat, the balloon quickly travelled beyond the range at which the chase vehicles could directly receive the tracking signals.<br />
<br />
Fortunately the ham radio community provides an infrastructure that extends the range of '''APRS''' transmitters. This infrastructure consists of two types of stations:<br />
<br />
1. '''Digipeaters''' A digipeater ("digital repeater") is an '''APRS''' station that receives transmissions from other '''APRS''' stations and repeats them. Digipeaters are typically located in high locations such as radio towers, and can significantly extend the range over which the position reports from an '''APRS''' station can be received.<br />
<br />
2. '''iGates''' An iGate receives transmission reports from '''APRS''' station and forwards them via the internet to various internet servers, which store the transmissions and allow the data to be displayed by any internet connected computer.<br />
<br />
As the crew finished lunch and resumed chasing the balloon we were about 80 miles behind the balloon, which was heading east along a path that roughly followed Interstate 80. Thanks to the '''APRS''' digipeaters and iGates provided by fellow ham radio operators, we were able to follow the track of the balloon on our cell phones and tablets via the internet. This worked well during the ascent portion of the flight. At 14:27 EST the balloon reached its maximum altitude of 111,759 feet and burst, beginning it's descent. As the descent began we received two '''APRS''' position reports from 102,264 feet and 95,486 feet.<br />
<br />
For reasons that are still unknown we then stopped receiving '''APRS''' data from the balloon for 25 minutes. This made the chase crew apprehensive, since without accurate position information we would not be able to find the landing site of the balloon. Except for the position data transmitted by '''APRS''', all of the experiment payloads on this flight recorded their data on board. If we did not recover the balloon we would not even have any interesting data to show for all of our efforts. (For future balloon flights we plan to send experiment results via ham radio during the flight, so we will have data even if the balloon is not recovered).<br />
<br />
The chase vehicles continued east on Interstate 80 along the last known path of the balloon. We were getting quite dejected, since 25 minutes is close to the expected descent time. If the balloon were already on the ground without having transmitted it's position to the '''APRS''' internet servers we might never find it.<br />
<br />
Suddenly we received two final '''APRS''' position reports via the internet; one from approximately 2000 feet above ground level, and one from 1000 feet. Since the balloon was now near the ground this gave us knowledge of where the balloon would land within a few hundred feet. <br />
<br />
We received no further position reports via the internet. This was expected; when the balloon is below about 2000 feet above ground level it is unlikely the '''APRS''' signals will reach an iGate do to the low power of the onboard transmitter.<br />
<br />
This is a screen shot from an '''APRS''' internet server showing the position reports that were received during the balloon flight. The green line east of Younstown is the 25 minute period during which no '''APRS''' data from the balloon was received by the internet servers.<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_flight_path.jpg]]<br />
<br />
The approximate landing location was in northwest Pennsylvania very close to the intersections of Interstate 80 and Interstate 376. Our next fear was we might receive position reports traveling east toward New Jersey at 70 MPH on the top of some truck!<br />
<br />
Fortunately that did not happen. As we approached the intersection near the position reports we began to receive '''APRS''' data from the balloon payload directly on 144.39 MHz via receivers in the chase vehicles. The received position was transferred to a handheld GPS unit, which lead us to 60 feet from the tree the balloon payload had landed in.<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_tree.jpg]]<br />
<br />
== Experiment Results ==<br />
=== Altitude and Vertical Speed ===<br />
During the ascent the balloon rose at a fairly constant 13 MPH. At 111,759 feet the balloon burst and the payload began to descend rapidly, reaching a maximum descent rate of 163 MPH at an altitude of 93, 460 feet. As the balloon descended below that altitude the vertical speed decreased steadily due to the increasing air density. The vertical speed at landing was 36 MPH.<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_altitude.png]] [[File: C1_vert_speed.png]]<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_vert_speed_vs_hgt.png]]<br />
<br />
=== Air Temperature ===<br />
The minimum ambient air temperature was -61 Celsius, and occurred at an altitude of 52,236 feet. Above that altitude the temperature increased due to solar heating of the upper atmosphere.<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_temp.png]] [[File: C1_temp_vs_hgt.png]] <br />
<br />
== Images ==<br />
<br />
'''More to come !!!'''<br />
<br />
[[File: C1_onboard.jpg]]<br />
<br />
'''Landing Site in View'''<br />
<br />
[[File:IMAGE374.JPG]]</div>Garyhttps://wiki.hackpgh.org/index.php?title=File:Wide_HackPGH_Logo.png&diff=2057File:Wide HackPGH Logo.png2013-08-01T15:37:27Z<p>Gary: Test</p>
<hr />
<div>Test</div>Garyhttps://wiki.hackpgh.org/index.php?title=File:IMAGE374.JPG&diff=2056File:IMAGE374.JPG2013-08-01T15:30:52Z<p>Gary: Landing Site in View</p>
<hr />
<div>Landing Site in View</div>Garyhttps://wiki.hackpgh.org/index.php?title=C1&diff=1896C12012-10-19T16:17:18Z<p>Gary: /* Imaging */</p>
<hr />
<div>== Info ==<br />
<br />
This is our first launch in 2012 and our fifth launch in our [[LEAD Balloon Project]].<br />
<br />
Members and Non-members alike are welcome to come along for the launch and recovery!<br />
<br />
Please see [[LEAD Balloon Launch Day Details]] for what we do the 'day of' and what to expect if you come along!<br />
<br />
== Results ==<br />
The balloon made it to <TBD><br />
<br />
KMZ of the new tracker's APRS data: TBD<br />
<br />
KMZ of the old tracker's APRS data: TBD<br />
<br />
<br />
== Images ==<br />
(Insert links to flickr pool, etc.)<br />
<br />
== Launch Date ==<br />
* Sun Oct 28th, 2012 - TARGET DATE<br />
<br />
== Locations ==<br />
* Launch point: (this was B1's launch point, consider using again for C1)<br />
** 40° 43.685'N, 81° 31.500'W [http://g.co/maps/nmbg Map]<br />
** 517 Park St NW, Navarre, OH 44662-9267<br />
** This was a great location: a football field that had metal bleachers (makeshift tables, seating) and porta-potties.<br />
<br />
* Projected Landing:<br />
** TBD<br />
<br />
* ACTUAL Landing:<br />
** TBD<br />
<br />
== Weather Conditions ==<br />
<br />
== Equipment ==<br />
<br />
==== Aerial ====<br />
<br />
====== Balloon ======<br />
KCI-1500 from [http://web.archive.org/web/20090416075837/http://www.kaymont.com/pages/sounding-balloons.cfm Kaymont (wayback machine link)]<br />
<br />
====== Enclosure ======<br />
* Multiple:<br />
** Scavenged Styrofoam cooler for the GPS tracking<br />
** TBD for other payloads.<br />
<br />
====== Parachute ======<br />
3.6' orange ripstop nylon round parachute with eight 7' lines to the payload. 5" center vent with one 15' line to the balloon. Grommeted cord connection points.<br />
<br />
====== Tracking ======<br />
* New Tracker:<br />
** Home built controller based on [http://www.trackuino.org/ Trackuino]<br />
** The radio module was a Radiometrix HX1-144.390-3.<br />
** The GPS is a high altitude gps from Argent Data systems (https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=144).<br />
* Old Faithful:<br />
** A home built controller based on the [http://www.byonics.com/microtrak/mt300.php Micro-Trak] 300 from [http://www.byonics.com/ Byonics].<br />
** The radio module was a Radiometrix HX1-144.390-3.<br />
** The GPS is a high altitude gps from Argent Data systems (https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=144).<br />
** Old Faithful has been, but is closed source and we want to make modifications, hence the New Tracker. We're flying two trackers just in case the new one has issues...<br />
* New Tracker: [http://aprs.fi/?call=kb3toa-11&dt=1281225600&mt=roadmap&z=11&timerange=3600 APRS.fi for KB3TOA-11 - transmiting every 47 seconds]<br />
* Old Tracker: [http://aprs.fi/?call=kb3tan-11&dt=1281225600&mt=roadmap&z=11&timerange=3600 APRS.fi for KB3TAN-11 - transmiting every 31 seconds]<br />
<br />
====== Imaging ======<br />
* Gary: <Details to be filled in><br />
<br />
20121002 1100 hours: Camera is working and logging images to 4GB SD card on logger shield @ approx. 1 min. intervals. Files are stored with file creation times. Images are 640x480 and require approx 50KB of storage. Writing to SD card requires almost 30 secs. Other image sizes available are 160x120, 320x240 and smaller sizes require less time to write to card. Need to experiment with these different sizes since 30 secs write time seems a bit excessive.<br />
<br />
I checked with local Giant Eagle fish/meat dept. for styrofoam boxes that they use for frozen products. They could not provide any due to contamination concerns. I have 2 styrofoam boxes approx. 5x5x5 inch outside dimensions. They were originally used for shipping coffee mugs. While they are large enough for housing the Arduino Uno, Prototshield, and DataLogger shield, I'm not sure if power supplies will fit. Also there is prototyping area available on logger shield, so proto shield could potentially be eliminated. Used Protoshield from "Musical Images" project from Mini Maker Faire as it contained voltage divider network required for camera.<br />
<br />
Arduino is currently running from USB cable tethered to laptop. Have to modify it to run from power supply which I understand is 2-9v batteries connected in parallel (primary) and lithium backup.<br />
<br />
20121019 1200 hours: ROAD TEST of camera payload is scheduled for tonight.<br />
<br />
Am nearing completion of building the payload from styrofoam. Have covered camera hole in side of styrofoam box with a 2" x 2" square of lexan. Comparison of pictures taken thru lexan with those taken earlier (pre-lexan) show no degradation in quality. Lexan was chosen over acrylic due to its low weight, pliability, clarity, and temperature characteristics. Was concerned with effects of temperature change on structure of acrylic vs lexan. Sales person at Lowes said that lexan is the way to go in cases where temperature variability was a concern.<br />
<br />
Have wired data logger shield with camera circuitry, tested it, all A-OK.<br />
<br />
Not sure about how batteries get attached to Arduino/logger electronics, footprint of batteries, and footprint of hand warmer. Hopefully this can be determined tonight before ROAD TEST.<br />
<br />
Also need netting material for attaching payload to car and balloon. I am assuming that this material is at shop or will be there tonight.<br />
<br />
====== Electronics ======<br />
* Sayan: Gamma detector - specs to be filled in.<br />
* Sayan: Gas sensors - specs to be filled in.<br />
<br />
==== Weight ====<br />
TBD<br />
<br />
==== Cost ====<br />
TBD<br />
<br />
==== Power ====<br />
TBD<br />
<br />
==== Ground ====<br />
<br />
====== Tracking ======<br />
For anyone who can't be at the start and wants to follow along or meet us part way:<br />
TBD</div>Garyhttps://wiki.hackpgh.org/index.php?title=C1&diff=1880C12012-10-01T15:08:24Z<p>Gary: /* Imaging */</p>
<hr />
<div>== Info ==<br />
<br />
This is our first launch in 2012 and our fifth launch in our [[LEAD Balloon Project]].<br />
<br />
Members and Non-members alike are welcome to come along for the launch and recovery!<br />
<br />
Please see [[LEAD Balloon Launch Day Details]] for what we do the 'day of' and what to expect if you come along!<br />
<br />
== Results ==<br />
The balloon made it to <TBD><br />
<br />
KMZ of the new tracker's APRS data: TBD<br />
<br />
KMZ of the old tracker's APRS data: TBD<br />
<br />
<br />
== Images ==<br />
(Insert links to flickr pool, etc.)<br />
<br />
== Launch Date ==<br />
* Sun Oct 28th, 2012 - TARGET DATE<br />
<br />
== Locations ==<br />
* Launch point: (this was B1's launch point, consider using again for C1)<br />
** 40° 43.685'N, 81° 31.500'W [http://g.co/maps/nmbg Map]<br />
** 517 Park St NW, Navarre, OH 44662-9267<br />
** This was a great location: a football field that had metal bleachers (makeshift tables, seating) and porta-potties.<br />
<br />
* Projected Landing:<br />
** TBD<br />
<br />
* ACTUAL Landing:<br />
** TBD<br />
<br />
== Weather Conditions ==<br />
<br />
== Equipment ==<br />
<br />
==== Aerial ====<br />
<br />
====== Balloon ======<br />
KCI-1500 from [http://web.archive.org/web/20090416075837/http://www.kaymont.com/pages/sounding-balloons.cfm Kaymont (wayback machine link)]<br />
<br />
====== Enclosure ======<br />
* Multiple:<br />
** Scavenged Styrofoam cooler for the GPS tracking<br />
** TBD for other payloads.<br />
<br />
====== Parachute ======<br />
3.6' orange ripstop nylon round parachute with eight 7' lines to the payload. 5" center vent with one 15' line to the balloon. Grommeted cord connection points.<br />
<br />
====== Tracking ======<br />
* New Tracker:<br />
** Home built controller based on [http://www.trackuino.org/ Trackuino]<br />
** The radio module was a Radiometrix HX1-144.390-3.<br />
** The GPS is a high altitude gps from Argent Data systems (https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=144).<br />
* Old Faithful:<br />
** A home built controller based on the [http://www.byonics.com/microtrak/mt300.php Micro-Trak] 300 from [http://www.byonics.com/ Byonics].<br />
** The radio module was a Radiometrix HX1-144.390-3.<br />
** The GPS is a high altitude gps from Argent Data systems (https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=144).<br />
** Old Faithful has been, but is closed source and we want to make modifications, hence the New Tracker. We're flying two trackers just in case the new one has issues...<br />
* New Tracker: [http://aprs.fi/?call=kb3toa-11&dt=1281225600&mt=roadmap&z=11&timerange=3600 APRS.fi for KB3TOA-11 - transmiting every 47 seconds]<br />
* Old Tracker: [http://aprs.fi/?call=kb3tan-11&dt=1281225600&mt=roadmap&z=11&timerange=3600 APRS.fi for KB3TAN-11 - transmiting every 31 seconds]<br />
<br />
====== Imaging ======<br />
* Gary: <Details to be filled in><br />
<br />
20121002 1100 hours: Camera is working and logging images to 4GB SD card on logger shield @ approx. 1 min. intervals. Files are stored with file creation times. Images are 640x480 and require approx 50KB of storage. Writing to SD card requires almost 30 secs. Other image sizes available are 160x120, 320x240 and smaller sizes require less time to write to card. Need to experiment with these different sizes since 30 secs write time seems a bit excessive.<br />
<br />
I checked with local Giant Eagle fish/meat dept. for styrofoam boxes that they use for frozen products. They could not provide any due to contamination concerns. I have 2 styrofoam boxes approx. 5x5x5 inch outside dimensions. They were originally used for shipping coffee mugs. While they are large enough for housing the Arduino Uno, Prototshield, and DataLogger shield, I'm not sure if power supplies will fit. Also there is prototyping area available on logger shield, so proto shield could potentially be eliminated. Used Protoshield from "Musical Images" project from Mini Maker Faire as it contained voltage divider network required for camera.<br />
<br />
Arduino is currently running from USB cable tethered to laptop. Have to modify it to run from power supply which I understand is 2-9v batteries connected in parallel (primary) and lithium backup.<br />
<br />
====== Electronics ======<br />
* Sayan: Gamma detector - specs to be filled in.<br />
* Sayan: Gas sensors - specs to be filled in.<br />
<br />
==== Weight ====<br />
TBD<br />
<br />
==== Cost ====<br />
TBD<br />
<br />
==== Power ====<br />
TBD<br />
<br />
==== Ground ====<br />
<br />
====== Tracking ======<br />
For anyone who can't be at the start and wants to follow along or meet us part way:<br />
TBD</div>Gary