On Saturday, March 18, a high-altitude research balloon was launched from the UC Berkeley campus carrying amateur radio equipment, including APRS, using the call sign W6BB-1 and a cross-band repeater, and other experiments. The balloon reached an altitude of 108.346 feet, and traveled from the Berkeley campus to Folsom, CA. When the balloon passed through the cloud deck, the APRS data showed a velocity in excess of 100 mph. The chase team kept in touch, via amateur radio. The balloon team included UC staff and students including K6JEB, W6MMR, and KJ6DBZ.
The balloon was named Henry-1, after the late UC Space Scientist Henry Primbsch, KK6PH. There will be a story with pictures and more details on the EBARC page: http://www.ebarc.org/hab.htm The team played the recovered video from the cameras at the March EBARC meeting.
Equipment Details:
Balloon:
Starts At Approximately 6′ When Filled, About 40′ At Burst
1500 g latex Kamont
179.1 cu-ft Helium fill
106k ft Predicted Burst Altitude
115 min Predicted Burst Time
6.7 lb Neck Lift (5.4 lb Payload)
925 ft/min Predicted Ascent Rate
Parachute:
60″ Spherachute
885 ft/min Predicted Descent Rate
Radio Module:
SainSonic APS510 APRS Bluetooth Tracker (1 W) w/Twin Lead J-Pole antenna rigged on flightline)
Wouxun KG-UV8D HT with Cross Band Repeat Function
Output 445.525 MHz NB (1 W)
Input 135.525 MHz NB (no tone)
Ground Plane Antenna Mounted on Capsule (Constructed From Welding Rods)
GoPro Camera
Geiger Module
Recording Geiger Counter – Records High Energy Particle Strike Locations onto SD Card
Goldmine Electronics Geiger Counter, Adafruit Arduino Uno & GPS Shield With SD Slot
Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries (9V & 1.5 V “AA”)
Up and Down Looking Camera – HobbyKing HD Wing Camera (1280x720p 30 fps)
Atmospheric Sampling Module
PVC Pipe Within Another Pipe Driven By A Linear Actuator. Set to Sample at x ft
Actuonix L12 P Micro Linear Actuator
Modern Device RBBB Arduino, U-Blox GPS Module
Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries (9V & 1.5 V “AA”)
Radar Reflector
Increases The Apparent Size Of The Object On Radar
Homemade Aluminum Laminated Cardboard Corner Reflector
For more information, join list: supernode-ham@lists.berkeley.edu
