Flight Recap of EOSS-5

Launch date: April 11, 1992
Launch time: 15:01 UTC
Launch site: Robert Clement Park
                   Littleton, Colorado  USA
Launch coordinates:  39.60865 deg NORTH
                              105.07388 deg WEST
Max Altitude: 106,000 ft.
Touchdown time: LOS 18:06 UTC
Touchdown Distance: 83.72 Miles
Touchdown coordinates:  39.6330 deg NORTH
                                     103.5000 deg WEST

Payload Systems:

  • IASS Stabilization Experiment
  • VOR Experiment
  • W6ORE Flight Controller
  • ATV - 426.250 MHz
  • Beacon - 147.555 MHz
  • Pressure Sensor used to determine altitude
  • Temperature sensors (internal and external)

 Experiments:

  • IASS Stabilization experiment
  • VOR experiment by Mike Manes
  • Tracking beacon by Neal Tenhuzen 
  • Nichrome wire balloon release by Jack AA0P.

Project Lead: Jack Crabtree, AA0P
Balloon Lead: Merle McCaslin, K0YUK
Launch Site Lead: Jack Crabtree, AA0P
Public Relations Lead: Marty Griffin, WA0GEH
Tracking and Recovery: Greg Burnett, K0ELM
Education Lead: Tom Isenberg, N0KSR

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Flight Highlights
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A flyer was prepared for this flight which is an excellent resource for information about the flight.

WX conditions at the launch site were great. There was very little wind and the balloon ascended from the launch site straight up.

The stabilization experiment worked well at low altitude, it was able to stop the rotation of the payload and turn the package in the opposite direction. Later in the flight the ground station had intermittent contact with the payload. The beacon batteries died at lift off and the antenna broke. Ground control lost 2 meter control at cut down time and Mike W5VSI was able to send the release command from the field at 17:22 UTC.

The controller went into a premature touchdown mode at 19,000 ft. at17:56. Greg Burnett, K0ELM and Eric Brisnehan, his navigator, witnessed the descent and landing from a quarter of a mile away. The parachute looked good on descent. The VOR experiment did not work. Part of the problem was believed to be RFI from the ATV system.

Recap

An Excellent recap is available in THIS EDITION of the Stratophere.

Photos

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Launch Site

Recovery Site