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A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a high altitude balloon launch in northern Nevada. The 3000 gram helium filled balloon carried about 6 payloads to an elevation of 97,000 ft. A parachute carried the payloads back to earth.
I got up at 2:30am, and drove to the west shore of pyramid lake.
<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&t=h&msa=0&msid=106532877977513951983.000439306e161760006af&ll=40.53572,-119.376068&spn=0.934104,1.61499&z=10&om=1" target="_blank">Google Maps link to location</a>
Map shows launch and retrieval locations
The payload that I and another student built was a foam core box that housed a digital camera (took pictures every minute), a temperature logger that recorded internal and external temperatures, a GPS receiver, barometer, resistor heater powered by 8 AA. The heater is necessary as it gets very cold (sub zero) at these high elevations, and the batteries will shut down on the instruments.
These pictures were from Prof. Eric Wang's Payload. My pictures from my payload are not yet available, but when I get them, I will update the thread.
His setup was a Canon Xti with a 10-20mm Sigma set at 10mm. The shutter was triggered by a timer. The frequency of the timer could be controlled by radio.
I checked back in on the UNR Engineering BalloonSat project page, and it looks like there are photos available now. Check the full gallery here (below the Youtube video.)
A few pictures for people interested in the balloon, and setup.
As soon as we got to the location, we put a couple tarps down on the ground and spread the balloon (latex material I think) out on the ground.
Damn it was early in the morning!
Hooking up the gas.
Watching in Awe
Getting the payloads ready
Payloads were strung out along the ground.
Walking the balloon and payloads up.
Making last minute adjustments
The release.
The landing spot and debris.
Dr. Wang's camera took a pretty hard hit. Lens hoods and filters are good!
All the pics I have for now.
) He attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and helped restart their amateur radio club. One of the activities they've gotten heavily into is ballooning, and although he's out in the working world now he's still an active member of the club and their balloon program.
