Recap of EOSS-135

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Launch Operations at the Ground Station

by Benjie Campbell, W0CBH

Well, this was another successful flight and the launch team did it again. Larry Noble, N0NDM, and I had more help at the launch site with members of EOSS being there to help us prepare and launch the balloon. I want to thank them for helping out.

We tried a new procedure where we get the balloon ready and then store it, tied to the trailer, while we prepare a second balloon. We didn't have the second balloon this time, but we did prove the procedure for that time when we will. Our plan is to fill both balloons and then store them until time for launch. We can get our balloon filling tasks done and then be ready to launch them very close together. This will allow us to get both balloons up with the minimum amount of delay and keep them close together in the flight. The FAA is requiring us to be on the ground at 9:30 am every flight now. This is a way for us to do that by keeping the time between launches shorter.

The weather for this last flight was cool at the launch site. We arrived about 5 to 10 minutes later than we wanted to and quickly filled the balloon. We attached it to the side of the helium trailer and waited for the payload crews to finish with their assembly of the flight string. When they were done, we walked up to the flight string, attached it and launched the balloon. There was absolutely no wind to contend with.

We were done repacking the helium trailer in a short period of time and then went into the sun room to watch the flight progress. we stayed through the entire flight and then went to lunch at the Arby's at the freeway exit to Windsor.

During the flight, Nick, N0LP was speaking with several members of the tracking team. He had his coffee cup right next to his laptop and hand mic. He placed his mike on the table and took a drink from his mug and then placed it on the table next to the mike. Someone asked him a question on the radio and without thinking he picked up the mug and spoke into it, thinking it was the mike. I started laughing and told him what he had done. The rest of the occupants of the room broke up laughing. We had a lot of fun over that one.

So, to recap this flight for the launch team. Our plan to fill and store balloons works. We think this will allow us to fill and launch two balloons more quickly than previously was possible, thereby giving us more flight time before the required "On the ground time".