Announcement for EOSS-59

LAUNCH DATE: August 17, 2002
LAUNCH TIME: Between 16:00 and 16:30 UTC  (as of 09:47 am MDT)

Weather behaving but payloads aren't. Expect a 30 minute delay. Times above have been adjusted

LAUNCH SITE: Meadow Lake Airport (directions and map here)

Frequencies:

  • Preflight Net:
    • 147.225 MHz 8 pm MDT preceding Friday night
      • 145.160 MHz simulcast in the Springs
    • 146.640 MHz will serve as a backup frequency
  • HF Net during Flight
    • 7235 KHz starting at 12:30 UTC (6:30am MDT)
  • APRS
    • 145.600 MHz (Payload APRS Beacon)
      • ID: W5VSI-11
    • 445.975 MHz (Balloon APRS Beacon)
      • ID: KC0JHQ-11
      • Why a beacon on the balloon, see notes below
    •  
  • Packet
    • 144.340 MHz (Telemetry from the GAINS Experiment)
      • Do NOT connect to this station please
      • Record Telemetry, it may help fill holes
  • Beacon
    • 147.555 MHz CW ID Only
  • ATV
    • 426.250 MHz (A NOAA ATV System not EOSS's)
  • Tracking and Recovery Operations
    • 448.450 MHz (100 Hz tone required) PPFMA Repeater
    • 146.550 MHz simplex (same simplex for field and launch ops)
  • Simplex at Launch Site
    • 146.550 MHz (same simplex for field and launch ops)

 

Experiments:

  • GAINS  - NOAA's experimental balloon system. This is a test of the turbine pump system which is used to control pressure in an altitude control system (ballast balloon but with some kinks see the GAINS site for details).


Notes:

Related Web Pages

NO Digis or Connects

Because of an expected high data rate being transmitted from the GAINS experiment to the ground via packet radio all TNCs will be set to only accept connects from authorized control stations. Also, DIGIs and nodes will be turned off. Please remember to turn off your beacons too as they will affect the way our ground station controllers will be able to interact with the two packet systems aboard the balloon.

Tracking and Recovery Instructions

The only special instructions:

Find a panel on the NOAA Payload marked for power connections. On it should be instructions on how to cut power, but essentially, inside the cover should be three jumpers. Disconnect them in any order.

On the ring structure you should see an ATV system. There is a toggle marked ON/OFF. Turn it off.

Leave the payload as undisturbed as possible while still accomplishing the above so that the FLS labs folks can arrive and videotape the touchdown location

APRS on Balloon

Because we are using a raven 19,000 cu. ft. balloon we want to be able to track and recover our debris. So, after the payloads are cut away and the balloon has burst, we will be tracking and recovering it too.