EOSS-237 Eaton MS Flight - Recap

Additional pictures added.

The balloon launched at 0831 and landed at 1218. It flew approximately 116 miles and landed at 40.96950, -102.57883, 3-1/2 miles northwest of Sedwick, Colorado. The balloon reached a height of 94,963 ft. After landing, the parachute dragged the payload string 962 feet. Good payload construction saved all the experiments!

Original Announcement: 

Click here to submit mileage 

(https://goo.gl/forms/8m0Z8CkQuHtADXm63)

 

 

  • Launch time is 8:30 am
  • Payload Plan has been updated to Rev C
  • Final payload weights will be determined at weigh-in
  • Payloads need to be onsite at 7:00 am for weigh-in and string up
  • We will be launching from Eaton MS

Exempt balloon flying several science experiments on three payloads built by Eaton Middle School students.

There are a mutlitude of links located here that provide weather predictions, weather observations, and during the flight, real time tracking information.

The launch will be at 8:30am. See the Payload Plan linked below.

Here is the 24-hour flight prediction. This is one you want to print out and bring with you. This is the most accurate pre-flight prediction. The profile shows a modeled estimation of the flight (you can practice your metric units!).

       

Here is the 24-hour prediction file for TrackPoint.

  

Event Date: 
Saturday, March 4, 2017 - 00:00
Flight Coordinator: 
Jim KCØRPS
Launch Site: 
Grid: 
West Intersection 14 & 71, x=55, y=30; Grid Test N 41.000, W 104.000 = X 38.2 Y 56.8
Flights: 

EOSS-237

Eaton Middle School Science Flight

Balloon Type: 
1500g Totex latex balloon
Parachute: 
8.5 ft circumference Sphereachute with cutter and fast release
Beacons: 
FrequencyCallsignTypeNotes
147.420 MHzKØSCC-11APRS/Cutter/DFSecondary Beacon
144.340 MHzAEØSS-12APRS/DigipeaterTwo Batteries - heavy
145.570 MHzKCØD-11APRS/Digi/DF/Cutterqualification of cutter circuit
FrequencyList: 

Preflight Net:

  • 147.225 MHz CRA Repeater (107.2 Hz Tone) 8 pm MDT preceding night
  • 146.940 MHz (103.5 HZ Tone) RMRL Repeater if the CRA machine is down
  • 146.640 MHz (100 Hz Tone) DRL will serve as a backup frequency

Recovery Operations:

  • 449.450 MHz RMRL (103.5 Hz Tone)
  • 446.100 MHz Field Simplex
  • 146.550 MHz Backup field simplex
  • 446.275 MHz Car drive-out frequency

Launch Site Simplex: 446.050 MHz

HF - Possible ops: 7.235 LSB

Tactical Calls: 
TacticalCall SignNameNotes
AlphaWAØGEH, KCØDMarty, MarkTracking Coordinator
BravoW9CN, NØJPSMike, JohnBackup Tracking Coordinator
CharlieKCØRPS. WØNFWJim, GeorgeFlight Coordinator, Tracker
DeltaKØSCCStephen, Sam, BiancaLaunch Team, Trackers, Dad, Student
EchoKE7KCKTomTracker
FoxtrotKDØSEMDaveTracker
GolfNØIX, KCØUUODoug, RobTrackers, President
HotelKC0LJohnTracker, Remote in Texas
TR Breakfast: 
Breakfast Location Change!! Due to the change in prediction, Mike has suggested we head for Brush and then go north from there. So the new breakfast site is: Drovers Restaurant 28601 US Hwy 34, Brush CO 80723, 970-842-4218 Due to the later launch time (8:30), breakfast will also be later! See you at 7:00! It appears that this might be in line with the prediction. Notice to all TRACKERS! We will need to take bearings on this flight, so be prepared on the ascent, to take and report a bearing to Alpha. As a reminder, the reporting process is like this example: "Station Bravo, 32, 45, 239 Degrees True, KØSCC (where Station Bravo is the tactical call, 32 is your X coordinate, 45 is the your Y coordinate, 239 is the bearing from that location, True indicates the true bearing and of course the call.) So lets be prepared. (Scroll Down) Thanks to John, KCØL: Grid location is Rt. 71 & 14 (West) X 55 Y 30 Grid Test N 41.000, W 104.000  X 38.2 Y 56.8 Prediction: 18 mi NW of Sterling (X 64.3 Y 42.3) Weather forecast for Eaton at 0800 tomorrow: Partly cloudy skies, cloud cover 45%, Visibility 10 miles, temperature 33, wind NW at 4 mph