LAUNCH DATE: March 30, 2003
LAUNCH TIME: 07:16 am MST, 13:16 UTC
LAUNCH SITE: Meadow Lake Airport (directions)
Green = actual track
Purple = predicted ascent
Red = predicted descent
Green = actual track
Purple = predicted ascent
Red = predicted descent
Launch Site - Meadow Lake Air ----------------------- Launch Point: 38.9527� lat. -104.5752� long. Grid: X=12.3 Y=117.0 Ascent Rate: 1000 feet per minute Descent Rate: 1384 feet per minute Altitude: 6874 feet Predicted Landing Site ----------------------- Landing Point: 37.8499� lat. -103.9884� long. Grid: X=44.5 Y=40.8 Altitude: 5000 feet Flight Time: 98 Minutes Bearing: 157.2� True Range: 82.5 Mi. Actual Landing Site ----------------------- Landing Point: 37.808� lat. -104.0297� long. Grid: X=42.3 Y=38.0 Bearing: 159.3� True Range: 84.4 Mi. Difference from Predicted to Actual Landing Site -------------------------------------------------- Bearing: 218.0� True Range: 3.7 Mi.
If an EOSS payload is highlighted, there is a link to an information page about that payload.
Balloon Manufacturer | Raven |
Balloon Type | Plastic |
Balloon Size | 19,000 Cu Ft |
Nozzle Lift | 50 lbs. |
Free Lift % | 25% |
Gross Inflation | 53 lbs. |
Ascent Rate | 997.7 fpm post flight average |
Descent Rate | 1153.5 fpm average from 10k ft. down |
Peak Altitude | 74167.32 ft ASL |
Launch Conditions | light winds |
Gross Inflation = balloon weight + parachute weight + payload weight + free lift.
See NOTES below regarding payload train configuration
GAINS Pump Test payload
Related Web Pages
Location | X coord | Y coord |
Pueblo | 10 | 70 |
Hawley | 59 | 50 |
Agular | 9 | 10 |
La Junta | 69 | 50 |
Launch Point | 13 | 117 |
Predicted Touchdown | 41 | 32 |
Hawley is the center site for use by Grid Calculator
These coordinates are for the intersection of roads 10 (east/west) and 71 (north/south). 71 intersects 10 in two locations approximately 1/2 mile apart. These coordinates are taken from the Eastern intersection, closest to the town of Hawley.
Tracking Stations as of Saturday Night
We would like to express our appreciation to
Their iGating of the packet data to the internet was of inestimable value. The FAA folks were very impressed. One controller was heard to remark that the system was "awesome". Nothing like bringing the FAA directly into the loop via the net, Findu.com and the efforts of our local volunteers.
Thanks also go to Russ, KB�TVJ for designing the web interface to Findu.com and Steve Dimse the author and maintainer of Findu!
Usually the charts are pretty much identical flight to flight with minor variations. However, this time we had a telemetry stream from both the balloon envelop and the payloads. This offers interesting charts comparing the descent rates.
Hi gang.
Well, I for one am a little tired.
2:00 am came pretty early. Larry Noble, N0NDM was on time at 3:00, oh heck he was a minute late. We went straight south to Walsenburg, and then east on Highway 10.
We had about 1/2 an hour to get stuff hooked up (it wasn't enough time) and start taking bearings. We still had too much junk and not enough time. We couldn't get the grid tracker program to track the balloon, but it still worked great as a grid tracker. We used the jeep mounted antenna for 2 meter bearings, and Larry's hand held antenna with the new attenuator. We would then average the bearings. The beacons were great and didn't seem to wander so much.
When the cutaway occurred we ended up finding the balloon beacon first and tracked it to a visual sighting which was across a big field to the east of the road. We couldn't find an easy way to it. After visiting two farm houses we decided to head east to road 5 and then south. By then Larry K0ANI had located it, and was picking it up.
We then continued south on 5 and ended up with Jim K0JLZ and got an eyeball on the payload. Then the beacon started coming in. We drove in with the land owner, and found it about 2 miles from the fence. We had lunch with the gang in Fowler, and got home about 3:30 pm.
Great time, good weather, and great scenery. We have some more ideas about what not to take next time, we will see if we stick to the plan.
General Radio Footprint for the flight