-- RickO - 2011-10-12

Nearspace Balloon

Project Summary

The idea is to create a high altitude balloon that will reach at least 70,000 feet. The balloon should meet the following requirements:

1. Be designed to reach at least 70,000 foot altitude.
2. Have a primary payload that is less than 6lbs.
3. Primary payload and secondary payloads may not weight more than 12lbs combined.
4. Take photographs on the way up and down.
5. Transmit GPS coordinates so we can track it from the ground.

Project Members

Name	Contact	Callsign
Rick O	rick (at) richardosgood.com	KE7SAL?
Kevin K	kd7ahu (at) att.net	KD7AHU?

TODO

1. Acquire GPS unit for payload. This needs a serial interface to talk to the TinyTrak3?.
2. Come up with a power supply for the GPS and TinyTrak?.
3. Get all of the electronics together and test them together.
4. Figure out how much room we need in the chassis.
5. Design and build the chassis.
6. Find an easy way to mount everything inside the chassis so it is accessible but secured nicely (velcro?).
7. Acquire the balloon.
8. Build the balloon filling apparatus.
9. Build and test the tracking station(s).
10. Acquire everything else.
11. Write and tripple check launch procedures.
12. Document Build Process
13. GO GO GO!

Additional Ideas

1. Internal / External Temperature Sensors
2. Logging telemetry data to SD card

Balloon Components

Component	Description	Supplier	Price	Assigned to
Chassis	Lightweight but strong chassis big enough to contain all electronics. Need to access internals for adjustments and need to be able to attach parachute/balloon. Need identifying information and make it VISIBLE.
Balloons	Needs to be big enough to lift the full weight of the payload and then some.
Parachute	Needs to be able to safely return the full payload weight to the ground, but quickly so it doesn't drift too far. Also must be VISIBLE.
GPS	Must work over 65,000ft. Many GPS units do not work at those altitudes.
Primary GPS Radio	5 watts should be enough. 2 meters is preferable.	Rick	$0	Rick
Camera	Needs to be able to take time lapse photos.	Kevin	?	Kevin
Power Supply	Needs to power the GPS and TNC at least. Maybe also the radio and camera.
TNC	Using the TinyTrak? 3. TEST to make sure it reaches digipeaters and transmits altitude before launch.	Rick	$0	Rick
Radio Antenna	Can make a simple J-pole out of ladder line from RadioShack?.	Radio Shack?

Launch Site Components

Component	Description	Supplier	Price	Assigned to
Large Tarp	This protects the balloon from the dirt, rockets, etc on the ground.
Helium	Need enough to fill the balloon to proper buoyancy. Twice that if we want a second chance.
Weights	We attach these to the balloon during filling to ensure that it doesn't float away and also that we have reached proper buoyancy.
Helium tank regulator	This allows us to control the speed at which we fill the balloon with helium.
Hose	To connect the Helium regulator to the balloon fill aparatus.
Balloon fill aparatus	Need something to insert into the neck of the balloon to pump the helium into. Small piece of PVC pipe could work.
Pipe clamps/tape	To clamp the balloon neck to the fill aparatus.
Cotton gloves	Anyone who handles the balloon wears these to protect the balloon from dirt and oil from hands.
Extra Batteries	Batteries for everything. Just in case...

Tracking Station Components

Component	Description	Supplier	Price	Assigned to
Laptop	Laptop that can run tracking software and possibly hook up to a GPS for simplified tracking.
Power inverter	Power inverter so we can power the laptop indefinitely from a vehicle.	Rick	$0	Rick
TNC	Can be software or hardware. Must be able to decode APRS packets for plotting on a map.
Tracking software	For tracking the balloon's position in real time on a map.
Digital Maps	Need maps for the tracking software. These are not always free.
External Antenna	Like a magmount on top of the vehicle for signal reception.	Rick	$0	Rick
Walkie Talkies	For vehicle to vehicle communication during the chase.
GPS	To keep track of vehicle location in comparison to balloon. Also for plotting optimal route to balloon.
Ham Radio	Dedicated ham radio for receiving APRS packets directly from the balloon. Essential for tracking.	Rick	$0	Rick

Launch Sites

Potential launch sites go here. Good to have alternates in case weather conditions don't play well with our plans. Need to ensure the balloon will not land anywhere near large bodies of water, forrest, or mountains. We want to recover the payload after all.

Launch Procedure

Launch procedure goes here once we have everything else designed and built.