Announcement of EOSS-87

LAUNCH DATE: 26-Feb-2005
LAUNCH TIME: 09:00 am MST (16:00 UTC)
LAUNCH SITE: Windsor, CO (directions)

EOSS Frequencies:

Global Frequencies

  • Preflight Net:
    • 147.225 MHz 107.2 Hz tone
  • Tracking and Recovery Operations
    • 449.450 MHz RMRL Repeater(103.5 Hz Tone)
    • 146.550 MHz simplex (same simplex for field and launch ops)
    • Repeater Coverage Pages - Listings of all repeaters available in the expected flight areas.
    • There may be FRS operations. Not expected this flight but see THIS PAGE for a list of channel numbers and their associated UHF Frequencies.
    • 7.228 MHz HF (sporadic usage)
  • HF Net
    • 7.228 MHz
      • The HF net may or may not be in operation for any particular flight. It depends on whether or not we get a volunteer net control station.
      • This net will move UP (away from Advanced and Extra band slices) to accommodate QRM. It should not set up above 7.250 MHz so if you don't hear it in that slice of spectrum, it is probably inactive. However station to station traffic for the Tracking and Recovery guys might pop up.

Balloon Frequencies

  • Beacon
    • 145.600 MHz
    • 446.025 MHz
      • ID: K�ANI-11
      • Tone then CW ID and APRS packet
      • Flight Test of system
  • APRS
    • 144.340 MHz
    • 144.390 MHz
      • ID: NG�X-11
      • Flight Test of Mark Caviezel's new APRS package
      446.025 MHz
    • 445.950 MHz
      • ID: K�YUK-11
    • 147.555 MHz
      • ID: W0WYX
      • Packet burst on the output of the RMRL Crossband repeater
  • Cross Band Repeater
    • Input: 445.975 MHz
    • Output: 147.555 MHz

Flight Systems:

Balloon Manufacturer Kaymont
Balloon Type latex
Balloon Size 1200 gram
Payload ??
Free Lift % calculated at fill
Ascent Rate 1000 fpm estimated
Descent Rate  900 fpm estimated
Parachute ??
Peak Altitude determined after flight
Launch Conditions determined at launch

Payload Configuration:

Experiments:

NOAA Atmospheric Profiler

Nick Hanks, N�LP is holding the atmospheric sampler. Behind him, Russ Chadwick KB�TVJ is explaining how it works. This version of the sampler is 14 or 15 meters long.

This coil of tubing will be sealed at one end, open at the other. As the balloon ascends to burst altitude, the air within the tube will evacuate. Then during descent it will refill with air.

Because of the inner diameter of the tube (small) and the way it will be pressurized from the atmosphere as it descends, the guys up at Boulder NOAA believe this will give them a good peek at atmospheric constituents at various altitudes. For a system to be workable, the length of the tube will need to be extended to between 40 and 80 meters in order to obtain sufficient resolution to be useful.

Anyway, notice the ends of the tube at the apex of the ring. Well, the tracking and recovery team members each should have a cap to seal the open end.

If you find this experiment and are not equipped with and end cap, please be sure to NOT DISTURB the coil. Don't pick it up, just leave it until someone with an end cap arrives on scene. It is especially important to not introduce carbon dioxide (your exhalations) or water (again, your breath) into the tube.

Internet Gateway Stations:

Future I-Gaters:

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

Current I-Gate Station:

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:

Help us build a database of the best RDF/Observation sites in Eastern Colorado. See the Observation Site Database page for ideas on what we'd like to see in this DB and if you're interested in the Balloon Track use of that database

EOSS Grid:

Location Grid X Grid Y
Intersection 71 and 14 (west) 65 45
Hudson 14 8
Nine Mile Corner 70 12.5
Rockport 6 65

Tactical Callsigns:

Tactical Callsign Name Notes
Alpha WA0GEH Marty coordinator
Bravo KB0YRZ Chris  
Charlie W0CBH and N5LPZ Benjie and Mike  
Delta KC0RPS  and W0NFW Jim and George  
Echo NG0X and KC0TLK Mark and Yolanda  
Foxtrot K0LOB and KC0QHI Jim and Jackie  
Golf KB0TVJ Russ  
Hotel K0SCC Steve and Whitney  
India N0LP Nick Ground Station

Notes:

Our Customer

Edge of Space Sciences

For the past several years EOSS has been flying "fun flights". Those are flights for the express purpose of testing new payload systems, running the tracking and recovery team ragged and generally having a good time with no customer requirements to be met. Each flight has a specific goal besides the having fun aspect. When that goal is developed, I'll post it here.

Radio Coverage:

  • Green, you should be able to work the payload systems.

  • Red, is the border of the received signal. Red appears jittery because it is depicted topographically. Thus, the red dots on the eastern half of the map but well within the maximum distance show hilly terrain behind (east) which reception is not possible.

This is a generic 95,000 ft ASL coverage map for flights that depart from the vicinity of Windsor, Colorado. Flight day coverage may vary depending on upper air winds.

HF Radio

Usually starts 30 minutes, frequency posted above