High Altitude Balloon Project

High Altitude Balloon Project

The purpose of this web page is to serve as a basis for setting out the specifications
and schedule for the construction and launch of an instrumented balloon, and to
keep track of preparations and who is doing what.

The projected launch date has been moved to a Saturday in spring 2009, probably in April.
Due to the low level of active participation so far, it has not been possible to be ready by
November 2008. Rescheduling to spring 2009 will allow time for development and testing
of the systems, and adjustments or revisions to equipment or programming that might be necessary.

Contacts:
Graham VE3BYT Barrie VE3BSB

If you would like to participate and contribute to the project in some manner,
(e.g., effort, components, financial support), please let us know. You will be added
to the information mailing list. As you can see, there is much yet to be done
to meet the planned launch date.

Progress reports and comments among
participants are at the bottom of this page.

Updated: November 8 2008

Item	Specs/Comment	Status	Coordinator
Balloon	Size will determine limits on payload weight. (And conversely ..... )	To be purchased - cost to about $300
Balloon Release	It would be desirable to release the balloon at some predetermined altitude, to reduce the possibility of losing the payload. Maximum altitude is not one of the objectives of this launch. I (VE3BYT) propose that the balloon should be released at 60,000 feet altitude or lower to permit the recovery at a reasonable distance from the launch site - such as preferably in Eastern Ontario, and not in the Laurentian Mountains, the Saint Lawrence River, or in New York or Vermont.	To be constructed
Radar Reflector		To be constructed
Parachute		To be purchased or constructed
Payload Container	Styrofoam Box, size as needed. Useful boxes are available free from pharmacies.	Several of different sizes are currently on hand.	VE3BYT
Tether Lines	Dacron, Nylon or other suitable line.	On hand.	VE3BYT
Helium		To be purchased.

Item	Specs/Comment	Status	Coordinator
GPS Receiver	Ideally should function to above 60,000 feet.	Testing Garmin GPS-18	VE3XZT
APRS Beacon Controller	TinyTrak or OpenTracker
Sensors Data	TinyTrak with WXTrak IC or OpenTracker. OpenTracker is programmed to handle Dallas OneWire sensors.
Still Camera and/or ATV Camera Camera Pointing	It would be interesting to send .JPG still frames down from the package by radio. Has anyone researched this? The ATV repeater in Ottawa, VA3TVA, can be set to receive AM FS ATV on 439.250 MHz for the duration of the flight. For ATV, possibly two inexpensive board-level cameras might be used - one oriented horizontally, and one pointed down. The controller could switch between cameras. Alternatively a servo could be used to change the camera direction of view, or to move a mirror in front of the lens.		VE3XZT?

Sensors: Temperatures - inside and outside the container Atmospheric Pressure Others?	Dallas One-Wire temperature sensors are readily interfaced to the PicAxe controller. The Motorola MPX4115 pressure sensor will work to about 60,000 feet (18,300 Metres) Altitude. Humidity is probably not worth the expense. Ionizing radiation?		VE3BYT VE3FLO


Microcontroller	For control of cameras and viewing angles, collection of data from sensors, datalogging, timing of various functions.- Choices to be determined when I/O needs are tabulated. Convenient choices include the Parallax Basic Stamp II, various Picaxes, Basic Atom, PICs. Basic Stamp - cost with carrier board, about $70. Programmable in Basic in-circuit. No ADC inputs - see LTC1298. Picaxe - relatively inexpensive. Cost with carrier board, $30 or so, plus peripherals. Has 8 and 10 bit ADC inputs. Programs in-circuit. Some useful ones are on hand along with carrier boards. Basic Atom - more pricey. Has ADC inputs and floating point math functions. Programs in-circuit. PICs - Program in separate programmer (out of circuit). Program in assembler or with Basic or C compiler. Cheap, but inconvenient. LTC1298 provides 2 channels or differential input 12 bit ADC (e.g. for the Basic Stamp or Picaxe). Math Co-processor ($20) could be added if floating point math is needed for Stamp or Picaxe. Stamp and Picaxe have commands for Servo control. Picaxe controllers have commands for direct Temperature acquisition using DS18B20 ICs. Some specific tasks can be off-loaded to Picaxe 08Ms (8 pin DIP uController) if desired.		VE3FLO VE3BYT

Beacons - visual, audible?	These could be useful for recovery - a loud audible signal, and a flashing LED lamp or strobe lamp. Should be controlled to activate / come on when the package comes down again to a reasonable altitude. An Off switch on the outside of the package would be a good idea. Have you heard those personal alarms!!		VE3BYT

Comments Blog
(most recent comments on the top)

September 30 2008

Balloon Project Update.

The high altitude balloon project is coming along, somewhat. Progress is actually slow, even given that the group actively involved so far is quite small.

As far as instrumentation goes, we plan to have APRS and several temperature sensors aboard, possibly atmospheric pressure, and most exciting of all, fast scan ATV on 439.250. It should be possible to see the ascent using a yagi pointed at the craft, and, Wayne, VE3CZO, has indicated he can turn on this input to the ATV repeater, VE3TVA, for the duration of the flight. So, users of the ATV repeater should be able to see the action too. I have purchased a TV receiver module that is very sensitive and works with the laptop on USB. This should work well. Dale, VE3XZT, and I will test this module when he receives the video transmitter, soon we expect. We still need a lightweight, board-level camera for the flight – does anyone know of a local source for these, similar to what is available from SuperCircuits in Texas?

The launch has been planned for mid-November, in conjunction with the planned launch by the Perth Montessori School at that time.

One limitation among a few others is the lack of volunteers to chase and recover the balloon. Without a chase crew, it is unlikely that we would launch anyway and wave goodbye to all that good equipment on board. This is not a tax-sponsored project! If you or anyone you know would be actively interested in the recovery phase, please let me know.

Those currently on this update list are the following:
"Graham VE3BYT" <graham@igs.net>
"Barrie VE3BSB" <barriecrampton@storm.ca>
"Dale VE3XZT" <ve3xzt@sympatico.ca>
"Ken VA3KA" <va3ka@rac.ca>
"Tom VA3NFA" <tomzinck@rogers.com>
"Doug VE3XK" <ve3xk@rac.ca>
"Al VO1NO" <vo1no@sympatico.ca>
"Dave VE3KL" <davidrconn@rogers.com>
"Pierre VE3FLO" <plemoyne@storm.ca>
"Wayne VE3CZO" getch@magma.ca
Do you know of others who should be on the list?

For an overview of the project, you can check a web page I have put up to keep track of things. This is at www.igs.net/~graham/balloonproject/. We would be pleased to have your comments and suggestions, and any offers of participation in any manner.

Given the season, many have their own projects to get in order before winter comes along – although the antenna season does not start until early January. If sufficient progress and support does not come together in time for a November launch, the project could be further developed over the winter for an early spring send-off. Let’s hope, though, that we can get it all together in time to get it off this fall.

73, Graham
VE3BYT.

Item	Specs/Comment	Status	Coordinator
Antenna GPS	Garmin GPS-18	on hand	VE3XZT
Antenna APRS	2M. Twinlead J probably adequate.	on hand tnx to VE3XK
Antenna - Camera/Telemetry
Antenna - ATV	Horizontally polarized - e.g. Big Wheel	to be constructed
ATV Transmitter	1 Watt transmitter on hand.	being tested by VE3BYT	VE3XZT
APRS and Data Transmitter		available	VE3BSB
Homing Beacon - Radio	APRS transmitter?

Item	Specs/Comment	Status	Coordinator
ATV Receiver on 439.250	Rx Module + Laptop	Module under test for amateur frequency.	VE3BYT
APRS 2 M RX
Ground Antennas - APRS, ATV	Gain antennas - 440 ATV - Yagi 144 - RRanger		VE3BYT
Computer with UI-View

Name	Call

Name	Call
No volunteers to date.