EOSS-260, 261 Eclipse Flight Recap

Tom Londrigan (KE7KCK)'s picture
Submitted by Tom Londrigan (... on Sat, 08/05/2017 - 19:50

  • EOSS-260 was launched the Camp Guersey North Training area (N 42 ° 22.629', W104° 44.834') at an elevation of 5014 ft. at 10:33 AM MDT.  The balloon burst at 12:14:45 MDT at an altitude of 96,459 ft. after an ascent averaging 901 ft./min.  The parachute and flight string touched down at N 42° 24.683', W 103° 54.316' at 12:50 PM at an elevation of 4699 ft. after a flight of 2 hours 17 minutes.  Horizontal touchdown speed was 21 mph.  The straight line distance between launch and touchdown was 43.0 miles along the ground.  After touchdown the wind pushed parachute and flight string about 59 ft.

  • EOSS-261 was launched the Camp Guersey North Training area (N 42 ° 22.575', W104° 44.835') at an elevation of 5178 ft. at 10:50 AM MDT.  The balloon burst at 12:59:30 MDT at an altitude of 95,688 ft. after an ascent averaging 702 ft./min.  The parachute and flight string touched down at N 42° 28.775', W 103° 33.448' at 13:39 PM at an elevation of 4823 ft. after a flight of 2 hours 49 minutes.  The touchdown horizontal speed was 18 mph.  The straight line distance between launch and touchdown was 61.2 miles along the ground.  After touchdown the wind pushed the parachute and flight string another 597 feet along the ground.  The parachute and flight string were recovered at N 42° 28.686', W 103° 33.504' at an elevation of 4525 ft.

Nice Camp Guernsey coverage:  http://wyomilitary.wyo.gov/17_176/

Great Steve Spangler videos: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h-0-ZSR4rs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw5MxCsqKrw

Great NASA Colorado Space Grant Consortium coverage:

https://www.facebook.com/Colorado-Space-Grant-Consortium-COSGC-274052725945178

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBUzXVIsFe0&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop

Moon shadow from balloon payload:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oom8jEDAdT4

 

 EOSS Member Mileage Reimbursement Link

 

Recap Gallery: 
Original Announcement: 

The flight will be launched from Camp Guernsey WY and will be two 1500 gram balloons with Colorado Space Grant eclipse observation payloads.  Launch times will be 10:30 and 10:45 for balloons 1 and 2 respectively.  Payload plans will be distributed via email.  There will be other launches in our area (Ft. Laramie, Glendo, Scotts Bluff).

 Our launch site for this will be inside the north training area of Camp Guernsey.  We have obtained special permission to operate there, but please remember that this is a Wyoming National Guard training facility (i.e. military installation).  

All persons attending the launch site should be registered with Colorado Space Grant Consortium.  The registration process will provide all the information for attendance and they will provide armbands to identify attendees.

Eye Safety:  Do not observe the partial phases of the eclipse with the naked eye! CU will be providing some eclipse glasses on-site.  See this link for more information Eclipse Eye safety

As a military installation there are additional rules, such as vehicles may be subject to search and inspection. Please treat any military personnel you may encounter with respect, we want to make a good impression on our hosts.  Since this is a restricted area, access should be coordinated through the EOSS Flight Coordinator.  (Contact info below)  Camp Guernsey has allowed us to camp at the launch site. No open or charcoal fires, but camp stoves up off the ground are permissible.  Any generators or fuel needs to have containment (steel or plastic tray underneath to catch spillage and fluids).  We will have Porta-Potties on site but no water, so you will need to bring your own.  Trash will need to contained within your vehicle since we have no provision at this time.  Please, no pets and any smokers dispose of the butts in your vehicle.  Camp Guernsey personnel will be inspecting the site before we leave. Please stick to the road once you are on Camp Guernsey property.  We have been cleared only for the use of the Connex Village and a couple of specific sites.  Other sites have the potential to be environmentally or culturally (archeological) sensitive. 

 

W9CN and N0JPS have been working diligently to set up digital repeater coverage for the anticipated recovery area.  All trackers should contact Alpha or W9CN on the EOSS reflector to ensure they have radios programmed appropriately.  

 

KB0TVJ has some links  with weather information.

Any questions should be directed to flight coordinator, KE7KCK: lawndragon (at) gmail.c

Event Date: 
Monday, August 21, 2017 - 00:00
Flight Coordinator: 
Tom KE7KCK
Launch Site: 
Camp Guernsey WY
Grid: 
Guernsey 30,30 Test: N 42.250, W104.500 Answer: 41.2,29.0
Flights: 

EOSS-260

Primary launch for the eclipse flight.  This will have an iridium tracker and eclipse payloads.

Balloon Type: 
1500g
Parachute: 
8.5ft
Beacons: 
FrequencyCallsignTypeNotes

EOSS-261

This flight will carry experiments from space grant colleges.

Balloon Type: 
1500g
Parachute: 
5.8 ft
Beacons: 
FrequencyCallsignTypeNotes
FrequencyList: 

Preflight Net:

Recovery Operations:

Launch Site Simplex: 446.050 MHz

HF - Possible ops: 7.235 LSB

Tactical Calls: 
TacticalCall SignNameNotesTrackPoint Xmit Time Slots
AlphaWAØGEH, KCØDMarty, Mark, PaulaAlpha at Launch Site4 minutes @ 12 seconds
BravoW9CN, NØJPS.Mike, JohnTracker, Alternate Alpha, Torrington4 minutes @ 17 seconds
CharlieKBØYRZChris, JenTracker from Torrington4 minutes @ 22 seconds
DeltaKØSCC, KE0BMV, KE0BMUStephen, Parker, Whitney, FranTrackers from Launch Site4 minutes @ 27 seconds
EchoKCØUUO, NØIXRob, DougTracker from Launch Site4 minutes @ 32 seconds
FoxtrotKDØSEM, KE0CQQDave, RyanTracker from Launch Site4 minutes @ 37 seconds
GolfKCØRPS, WØNFWJim, George, LindaTracker from Launch Site4 minutes @ 42 seconds
TangoKCØLJohnTracker from Guernsey and Texas4 minutes @ 47 seconds
IndiaKE7KCKTomTracker from Launch Site ?4 minutes @ 52 seconds
JulietKØLOBJim, JulieTracker from Launch Site4 minutes @ 57 seconds
KiloN7JJYGeorgeTracker from at Large
LimaNØSPBShaunTracker from Torrington
MikeKD7JNQCraigDispatcher
WhiskeyKDØNRYChrisTracker, COSGC
TR Breakfast: 
Set your TrackPoint Grid Reference Location in the Ref_Locations.dat file to: Guernsey,N,42,15.895,W,104,43.169 (Located at intersection of US-26 and WY-270) Set your TrackPoint Launch Site in the Locations.dat file to: Camp Guernsey,N,42,22.666,W,104,44.813,5123