Recap of EOSS-102

Submission guidelines available at: http://submissions.eoss.org

LAUNCH DATE: 8-Apr-2006
LAUNCH TIME: 7:57:02 am (13:57:02 UTC)
LAUNCH SITE: Windsor, CO (Driving Directions)

TOUCHDOWN: 09:22:13 - last airborne packet at 5285 feet altitude payload then was picked up locally by T&R team and it was reporting the surface at 4630 feet ASL. So, Touchdown was probably actually 9:23


Pre-flight Prediction and Actual Track

Blue = Actual Track
Green = Predicted Ascent Phase
Red = Predicted Descent Phase


Maps made with MapPoint
Prediction made with Balloon Track

Launch Site - Windsor
-----------------------
Launch Point: 40.4737� lat.   -104.9623� long.
Grid: X=-22.43 Y=25.57
Ascent Rate: 1000 feet per minute
Descent Rate: 950 feet per minute
Altitude: 4931 feet
Predicted Landing Site
-----------------------
Landing Point: 40.442� lat.  -103.8838� long.
Grid: X=34.2 Y=23.4
Altitude: 4500 feet
Flight Time: 114 Minutes
Bearing: 91.9� True
Range: 56.7 Mi.
Actual Landing Site
-----------------------
Landing Point: 40.4485� lat.  -104.2457� long.
Grid: X=15.2 Y=23.8
Bearing: 92.4� True
Range: 37.688 Mi.
Difference from Predicted to Actual Landing Site
--------------------------------------------------
Bearing: 271.5� True
Range: 19.019 Mi.

EOSS Frequencies:

Global Frequencies

Balloon Frequencies

  • Beacon
  • APRS
    • 144.340 MHz
      • ID: AE�SS-11
      • DIGI: EOSS
      • Node: BALNOD
      • APRS Time Slotted to 0:00 every minute
      • Telemetry Every 2 minutes at 0:00
      • Sample Data
    • 145.600 MHz

Experimental Systems

Our Customer

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

EOSS has developed an excellent working relationship with NOAA. We have flown several payload systems for them from the incredibly complex (GAINS) to the elegantly simple (AirCore)

GAINS Links

AirCore�

note: customers are welcome to submit detailed synopses of their flights or web links to their own web sites.

Payload System

NOAA AirCore� atmospheric sampler.

Recovery Crews - There is a valve at the end of this tube with a lever. This valve was closed at 09:55 am local time during the recovery process.


14 lbs of AirCore� planned to fly

 

Russ Chadwick sent this along:

Here's the impact absorber. It's made of 54 practice golf balls and will be on the bottom of the AirCore coil. The practice golf balls are tied together by 24 lateral loops of nylon string, 4 longitudinal loops and 8 diagonal loops. There will be an additional 24 practice golf balls to protect the sides of the coil. - Russ

 

Pieter Tans from NOAA attended our most recent meeting (14-Mar-06) and gave a presentation on atmospheric CO2 as well as an overview of the methodology of collecting an air sample using the AirCore� and processing it after the flight.

If you are interested visit:

I expect to receive a powerpoint file of the presentation at the EOSS meeting and I have received permission to post it along with an MP3 of Dr. Tans talk.

I've received a PowerPoint file (converted to PDF below) concerning how an AirCore sample is analyzed. Like really good PowerPoint presentations, the details and all the good information are in the mind of the presenter and not really all that apparent in the PPT file. It is after all used to illustrate points being made in a presentation, not become an independent presentation of the entire subject. One of the authors will be attending the next EOSS meeting. If he gives this presentation, I'll record it and add the MP3 of that here too:

  • AOS_Aircraft_analyzer_n0kkz_edit.pdf - I received two revised slides for this presentation and have inserted them and removed the originals. That's why my call and "edit" are in the filename. To properly attribute any weird results to me rather than to the original authors of the presentation.

NOAA, updates detailing any changes to the experiment are most welcome as are links to NOAA pages covering this elegant device.

Here is a NOAA article written about this aircore flight.


Flight Systems:

Balloon Manufacturer Kaysam
Balloon Type latex
Balloon Size 3000 gram
Payload 25.3 lbs.
Free Lift % calculated at fill
Ascent Rate 1000 fpm estimated
Descent Rate 910 fpm estimated
Parachute 10 ft
Peak Altitude 67,556.43 ft. ASL
Launch Conditions determined at launch

 


Payload Configuration:


Internet Gateway Stations:

as seen on Findu.Com

For AE0SS-11

  • K0UT- Bill Beach, Ft. Collins, CO
  • K0UT-2 - Bill Beach - Ft. Collins, CO
  • K0YG-7 - Mark Patton - Foxfield, CO
  • KC0LNO - Michael M Skinner, Monument, CO
  • N0PSJ - Christopher Holmes, Arvada, CO

For KC0YA-11

  • K0AEM-1 - Richard Beggs, Thornton, CO
  • K0UT-2 - Bill Beach - Ft. Collins, CO
  • K0YG-7 - Mark Patton - Foxfield, CO
  • KI4GYZ - Arthur Hostmark, Thornton, CO

EOSS wishes to express our sincere appreciation to the stations above who iGated the balloon APRS telemetry onto the internet.

We are relying heavily on real time position information available on the net to allow the FAA controllers to have up to the minute location data to assist them in air traffic control.

Redundant stations for the balloon iGating provide excellent coverage. If you are able to iGate we invite you to join the Internet Gateway Team. Contact me (webmaster@eoss.org) to be put in touch with the coordinator. By joining the team, you are giving peace of mind to the iGate coordinator for that flight. He knows you'll be there and he can rely on you.

Naturally, anyone can iGate data onto the net and even if you aren't a member of the team we will welcome your contribution to the internet based tracking effort. If you callsign appears on the findu.com log, you'll be shown as a contributing station as those above are.

Having more than one station covering each APRS beacon means that should a station drop out momentarily, the others can often maintain the data flow.

Thanks again guys! The FAA (and EOSS) are very grateful for your assistance in this endeavor.

Future I-Gaters:

Check out the EOSS I-Gate page for information on how to participate and why we need you.

Current I-Gate Stations:

Guys, the prediction program used to determine the track of the balloon prior to flight can now output a prediction for the Rise, Closest Approach, and Set of the balloon for each of your stations. I have posted a prediction page for stations that I have been able to discover geographic coordinates. See the I-Gate prediction page for an example. The page will not be updated daily, however, it will be updated the evening prior to flight for I-gate planning purposes.

I have often been asked by iGaters when they should expect to either start receiving signals (AOS) or expect to see those signals disappear (LOS). This prediction page should answer all those questions for you.


Tracking and Recovery Info:

Tactical Callsigns

Tactical Callsign Name Notes
Alpha N0NDM, N0MPM Larry and  Mike Tracking and Recovery Coordinator
Bravo WA0GEH, N0AUS Marty and Al  
Charlie W0CBH, WG0E Benjie and Colin  
Delta KB0YRZ, KC0UUO Chris and Rob  
Echo K0AEM, KI4GYZ Richard and Art  
Foxtrot K0SCC, K0ETN Steve and Rick tracking after launch
Golf AC7FY Clint  

 

Grid

Always check the Prediction Page to ensure you have the latest info. I occasionally seem to forget to update the predicted touchdown on this chart.

Location X Y
West Junction of SR-14 and SR-71 45 35
NE-Peetz 75 59.3
SE-Otis 82.6 3
SW-Roggin 8 4.5
Launch Site (Windsor) -22.43 25.57
Predicted Touchdown 34.2  23.4

Photos

Launch Site

Landing Site


Audio

The Tracking and Recovery team traffic from the Rocky Mountain Radio League's 449.450 MHz repeater from lift off to recovery.


Video

nothing yet


Data

AE0SS-11

KC0YA-11

Charts