Recap of EOSS-77/78

LAUNCH DATE: June 6, 2004
LAUNCH TIME:

  • eoss77 - 06:10 am (12:10 UTC)
  • eoss78 - 07:00 am (13:00 UTC)

Touchdown:

  • eoss77 - 07:50 am MDT (13:50 UTC)
  • eoss78 - 08:59 am MDT (14:59 UTC) (estimated)

 

LAUNCH SITE: Deer Trail, Co (Directions)

Blue = Actual Track (eoss78 only)
Green = Predicted Ascent Phase
Red = Predicted Descent Phase


Maps made with MapPoint
Prediction made with Balloon Track

Launch Site - Deer Trail
-----------------------
Launch Point: 39.6114� lat.   -104.0426� long.
Grid: X=16.19 Y=46.07
Ascent Rate: 1000 feet per minute
Descent Rate: 910 feet per minute
Altitude: 5205 feet

EOSS-77

Predicted Landing Site
-----------------------
Landing Point: 39.411� lat.  -103.6488� long.
Grid: X=37.2 Y=32.2
Altitude: 4501 feet
Flight Time: 133 Minutes
Bearing: 123.3� True
Range: 25.1 Mi.
Actual Landing Site
-----------------------
Landing Point: 39.4823� lat.  -103.8513� long.
Grid: X=26.4 Y=37.2
Bearing: 131.1� True
Range: 13.5 Mi.
Difference from Predicted to Actual Landing Site
--------------------------------------------------
Bearing: 294.6� True
Range: 11.9 Mi.

EOSS-78

Predicted Landing Site
-----------------------
Landing Point: 39.411� lat.  -103.6488� long.
Grid: X=37.2 Y=32.2
Altitude: 4501 feet
Flight Time: 133 Minutes
Bearing: 123.3� True
Range: 25.1 Mi.
Actual Landing Site
-----------------------
Landing Point: 39.4923� lat.  -104.1302� long.
Grid: X=11.5 Y=37.9
Bearing: 209.6� True
Range: 9.5 Mi.
Difference from Predicted to Actual Landing Site
--------------------------------------------------
Bearing: 282.5� True
Range: 26.3 Mi.

EOSS Frequencies:

EOSS-77 Frequencies

  • Beacon
    • 147.555 MHz
    • ID: W5VSI in CW
  • APRS
    • Physically detached during launch
    • 144.340 MHz (inactive)
    • ID: W5VSI-11

University Transmitters on EOSS-77

  • APRS (Montana State University)
    • 446.050 MHz
    • ID: K7MSU-11
  • Beacon (University of Hawaii)
    • 436.000 MHz

EOSS-78 Frequencies

  • Beacon
    • 145.600 MHz CW
    • ID: K�ANI
  • APRS
    • Primary
      • 145.600 MHz
      • ID: K�ANI-11
    • Secondary
      • 445.975 MHz
      • ID: K�YUK-11

University Transmitters on EOSS-78

  • Telemetry (University of Texas)
    • 900 MHz Spread Spectrum Frequency Hopping 0.14 watt

Flight Systems:

EOSS-77

Balloon Manufacturer Kaymont
Balloon Type latex
Balloon Size 3000 gram
Payload 20.0 lbs.
Free Lift % calculated at fill
Ascent Rate unknown
Descent Rate unknown
Parachute 10 ft. diameter
Peak Altitude unknown
Launch Conditions very windy

EOSS-78

Balloon Manufacturer Kaymont
Balloon Type latex
Balloon Size 3000 gram
Payload 20.7 lbs.
Free Lift % calculated at fill
Ascent Rate 998 fpm avg
Descent Rate -4731 measured at 10,000 ft.
Parachute 10 ft. diameter
Peak Altitude 104,973 ft. ASL
Launch Conditions very windy

 

Payload Configuration:

Updated for the Sunday flight configuration

EOSS Grid:

Location Grid X Grid Y
Last Chance 40 55
Selbert 79 25
Limon 34.5 22.5
Calhan 2.5 7
Launch Point (Deer Trail) 16.19 46.07
Touchdown 36.3 31.1

Tactical Callsigns:

Tactical Callsign Name Notes
Alpha WA0GEH Marty Coordinator
Bravo W0CBH Benjie Asst. Coordinator
Charlie K0JLZ Jim  
Charlie 2 K0AEM Richard  
Delta K0ANN Ann (not participating, doing as public service event)
Echo N5LPZ Mike  
Foxtrot N0PUF Dan  
Golf KB0UBZ Ben  
Kilo N0LP Nick Ground Station

 

Internet Gateway Stations:

as seen on Findu.Com

For K0YUK-11

  • KH2NC-3 - Rick Nilson

For K0ANI-11

  • K0YG-7 - Mark Patton

EOSS wishes to express our sincere appreciation to the stations above who iGated the balloon APRS telemetry onto the internet.

We are relying heavily on real time position information available on the net to allow the FAA controllers to have up to the minute location data to assist them in air traffic control.

Redundant stations for the balloon iGating provide excellent coverage. If you go are able to iGate we invite you to join the Internet Gateway Team. When we have more than one station covering each APRS beacon, should a station dropping out momentarily, the others pick up the slack quite nicely.

Thanks again guys! The FAA (and EOSS) are very grateful for your assistance in this endeavor.

Recaps:

Tracking and Recovery

Photos:

Launch Site

Recovery Site (EOSS-77)

Post Recovery Examination

Audio:

Data:

Only EOSS-78's telemetry system was operating this time out. It carried two APRS systems. Both are posted below.

These files may be updated in the coming days if I receive additional logs from other individuals who monitored the flight.

Plain Text Log

Comma Delimited Spreadsheet

Charts:

Our descent rates were somewhat interesting. You can download the data above and run more detailed analysis but...

Below is the ascent rate for the entire flight.

 

And below is a "close-up" of just the descent phase. I thought it interesting that apparently the exceptionally high descent rate slowed then at around 46K feet began to build once again. Possibly some additional late fouling of the chute from the payload train.