Topics View from our HAB at 90.000+ ft. Project Goals Actual - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

H IGH A LTITUDE B ALLOON C ARRYING A MATEUR R ADIO A N ASHUA A REA R ADIO C LUB STEM L EARNING P ROJECT S EPTEMBER 2017

Topics View from our HAB at 90.000+ ft. • Project Goals • Actual Flight Path Analysis • STEM Learning Elements • Our HAB’s Flight • HAB Flight Planning & Flight • Q&A Path Modeling Not to Scale 2

What Were We Trying To Do? Goals Balloon Just Before Burst • Assemble and launch a High-Altitude Balloon(HAB) carrying Amateur Radio • Get young people involved in the project and in STEM Learning via Amateur Radio • Planning • Platform testing • Launch, tracking and recovery • Analysis of flight data • Learn and develop HAB technology across multiple launches Not to Scale 3

Timeline To First Launch Build & Launch! Analyze, Funding Detailed Dev. Fund Raising Package & Plan Feasibility Planning Learn and Present Prelim. Flight Plan Refine Budget Youth Engagement Plan/School Signup Raise Money Form Youth Teams & Set Final Goals/Plan Purchase Equipment Begin Phase I Build & Test Data Analysis, Preso, Youth Teams Startup In Place Prep & Presentations Planning Late May, Jan. 5 th Feb. 2 nd March 2 nd Early June Project Start Project Minimum Set Launch Phase I Not to Scale Launch Funding Date & Site Launch! Go/No Go Req. Met 4

Our Students and Teachers Bishop Guertin HS Merrimack HS STEM Club Physics Students Not to Scale Independent Students 5

HAB Project What Our Students Did • Determine flight parameters for Helium Balloon Platform < 4 lb. • Target altitude: 90,000+ ft • Parachute controls decent rate after balloon bursts • Launch and Track HAB via the Internet using On-board 2m APRS Radio Transmitter • Flight computer records data throughout the flight • Capture Video of flight using on-board GoPro Cameras • Analyze HAB telemetry and sensor data to learn about the atmosphere • Hands-on activities included – • Planning the flight path • HAB launch, tracking & recovery • Making HAB flight design decisions • Analyzing telemetry results • Planning science experiments • Helping to define our goals for Not to Scale • Testing the payload additional launches after the initial one 6

STEM Learning Outline Terminal Physics Flight Physics Atmospheric Sci. Flight Path Predictions Radio Telemetry and Open House at Sensor Technology Taught Over Five Member’s Station to 1 ½ – 2 hour Test HAB and Explore Classroom Sessions Amateur Radio Filing a Flight Plan 7

Pressure Phenomena Example STEM Learning Topic • The molecules that make up the atmosphere are pulled close to the earth's surface by gravity. • The atmosphere is concentrated at the surface and thins rapidly with altitude. Burst • Air pressure is a measure of the weight of the molecules above you. • As you move higher, there are fewer molecules above you, so the air pressure is lower. • At 10 miles up, 90% of the atmosphere is below you. HAB Sensors Measure Pressure Enabling Students to Compare Actual Flight Conditions to Model 8

Temperature Changes Example STEM Learning Topic • The troposphere is warmer near the Earth’s surface because heat from the Earth warms this air. • As the altitude increases the number of air molecules decreases, thus the average of their kinetic energy decreases. The results is a decrease in air temperature with an increase of altitude. • From 10-20 km the atmosphere is stable. This region is called the tropopause . • From 20-50 km is the stratosphere. Ozone is concentrated in this layer and it absorbs UV light from the Sun. Burst • More light is absorbed at higher altitudes compared to the lower stratosphere, so the temperature increases. HAB Sensors Measure Temperature Enabling Students to Not to Scale Compare Actual Flight Conditions to Model 9

Filing a Flight Plan Learning Element • Closest VOR beacon is Keene, NH (Call sign E-E-N) • Launch site heading from this VOR is 260 O • Distance from VOR beacon is approx. 8.6 km or 4.6 nautical miles – 1 km = 0.54 nautical mi. • Launch time and 60 ft. altitude windows • Direction and estimated landing times “Launching Echo -Echo-November VOR, Radial Two-Six- Zero, at 4.6 Nautical Miles” 10

Amateur Radio Open House • Test the HAB’s radios and computer; test with an APRS ground station • Tour an active Amateur Radio station and learn more about Amateur Radio Communications • Get on the air and talk to Amateurs around the world • Make a contact through a satellite in space • Locate a hidden radio transmitter 11

High Altitude Balloon Our Approach Flight Platform & Parachute HAB During Ascent Not to Scale 12

High Altitude Balloon Project Weather Balloons Large Balloon Burst Diameter (6-8 ft in diameter on ground) (30+ ft at final altitude) Not to Scale 13

HAB Flight Platform Lightweight Components GoPro Cameras Flight Computer APRS Transmitter Commercial Satellite Tracker 14

Flight Planning What’s Involved? • Based upon payload weight, select balloon size, target altitude and flight time • Balloon Performance Calculator • Predict flight path based upon Jetstream conditions • Estimate balloon direction and downrange distance Launch site/date selection, recovery planning • Launch date and location choice important to avoid ocean landing • File a Flight Plan with the FAA • Contingencies – spare balloon & helium, plan to locate payload after dark, GPS/Compass, spare batteries, … . 15

Flight Planning Balloon Calculator Balloon Calculator Input Window Define launch location 155 Launch date and time Average ascent speed Burst altitude Descent rate (at impact) Launch Site: Winchester, NH elem. School: Lat = 42.767896 / Lon = -72.377026 16

Flight Planning Flight Path Modeling Tool We used an online software package from a HAB prediction site: http://predict.habhub.org/ 17

APRS Telemetry HAB Packets on aprs.fi HAB Packets (From our HAB Test Session via aprs.fi) • Call Sign – identifies the person or group licensed to transmit − May include information about the type of station they are using N1FD -11 The Nashua Area Type for Balloon, Radio Club Aircraft or Spacecraft 2017-04-07 21:16:50 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO148/000/A=000351RadBug,16C,984mb,3,001 2017-04-07 21:17:50 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,AB1OC-10:!4242.70N/07135.41WO148/000/A=000354RadBug,10C,984mb,3,002 2017-04-07 21:18:50 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO148/000/A=000360RadBug,08C,985mb,3,003 2017-04-07 21:19:50 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,AB1OC-10:!4242.70N/07135.41WO148/000/A=000360RadBug,06C,985mb,3,004 2017-04-07 21:20:50 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO148/000/A=000347RadBug,05C,985mb,3,005 2017-04-07 21:21:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO148/000/A=000344RadBug,05C,985mb,3,006 2017-04-07 21:22:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO174/000/A=000347RadBug,04C,985mb,3,007 2017-04-07 21:23:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO174/000/A=000344RadBug,04C,985mb,3,008 2017-04-07 21:24:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO325/000/A=000347RadBug,04C,985mb,3,009 2017-04-07 21:25:52 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO325/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,010 2017-04-07 21:26:52 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,AB1OC-10:!4242.70N/07135.41WO325/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,011 2017-04-07 21:27:52 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO325/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,012 2017-04-07 21:28:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO325/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,013 2017-04-07 21:29:52 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,AB1OC-10:!4242.70N/07135.41WO109/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,014 2017-04-07 21:30:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO109/000/A=000347RadBug,04C,985mb,3,015 2017-04-07 21:31:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO109/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,016 2017-04-07 21:32:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO266/000/A=000360RadBug,04C,985mb,3,017 2017-04-07 21:33:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO266/000/A=000360RadBug,04C,985mb,3,018 2017-04-07 21:34:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO266/000/A=000360RadBug,04C,985mb,3,019 2017-04-07 21:35:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO269/000/A=000364RadBug,04C,985mb,3,020 2017-04-07 21:36:51 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.71N/07135.41WO269/000/A=000367RadBug,08C,985mb,3,021 2017-04-07 21:37:52 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,AB1OC-10:!4242.71N/07135.41WO045/001/A=000364RadBug,13C,984mb,3,022 2017-04-07 21:38:52 EDT: N1FD-11 >CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,AB1OC-10:!4242.71N/07135.41WO056/000/A=000367RadBug,15C,984mb,3,023 Actual Packets from our HAB during a test 18

HAB’s Flight Path – Predicted vs. Actual Tracking via 2m APRS on aprs.fi Predicted Landing Pt. Actual HAB Flight Track Predicted Flight Path (Tracked via Cell Phones, Tablets, from Pre-Flight Modeling anything with a Web Browser) 19

Our HAB’s Flight Launch, Flight, and Recovery Not to Scale 20