HIGH ALTITUDE BALLOON CARRYING

AMATEUR RADIO

A NASHUA AREA RADIO CLUB

STEM LEARNING PROJECT

SEPTEMBER 2017

Topics

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• Project Goals

• STEM Learning Elements

• HAB Flight Planning & Flight Path Modeling

• Actual Flight Path Analysis

• Our HAB’s Flight

• Q&A

View from our HABat 90.000+ ft.

What Were We Trying To Do?Goals

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• 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

Balloon Just Before Burst

Timeline To First Launch

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Not to ScaleProject Start Minimum

Funding Req. Met

Set Launch Date & Site

Phase I Launch!

Analyze, Learn and

Present

Build & Launch!Detailed Planning

Funding Feasibility

StartupPlanning

Prelim. Flight PlanRefine Budget

Dev. Fund RaisingPackage & Plan

Youth EngagementPlan/School Signup

RaiseMoney

Form Youth Teams &Set Final Goals/Plan

Purchase EquipmentBegin Phase I Build & Test

Data Analysis, Preso,Prep & Presentations

Youth Teams In Place

Late May,Early June

Feb. 2nd March 2nd

Project Launch

Go/No Go

Jan. 5th

Our Students and Teachers

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Bishop Guertin HSSTEM Club

Merrimack HSPhysics Students

Independent Students

HAB ProjectWhat Our Students Did

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• 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

• Making HAB flight design decisions

• Planning science experiments

• Testing the payload

• HAB launch, tracking & recovery

• Analyzing telemetry results

• Helping to define our goals for additional launches after the initial one

STEM Learning Outline

Atmospheric Sci. Terminal Physics

Flight Path Predictions

Flight Physics

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Radio Telemetry andSensor Technology

Filing a Flight Plan

Open House at Member’s Station to Test HAB and Explore

Amateur Radio

Taught Over Five1 ½ – 2 hour

Classroom Sessions

Pressure PhenomenaExample STEM Learning Topic

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• 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.

• 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.

Burst

HAB Sensors Measure Pressure Enabling Students to Compare Actual Flight Conditions to Model

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• 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.

• More light is absorbed at higher altitudes compared to the lower stratosphere, so the temperature increases.

Burst

Temperature ChangesExample STEM Learning Topic

HAB Sensors Measure Temperature Enabling Students to Compare Actual Flight Conditions to Model

• Closest VOR beacon is Keene, NH (Call sign E-E-N)

• Launch site heading from this VOR is 260O

• 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 estimatedlanding times

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“Launching Echo-Echo-November VOR, Radial Two-Six-

Zero, at 4.6 Nautical Miles”

Filing a Flight PlanLearning Element

Amateur RadioOpen House

• Test the HAB’s radios andcomputer; 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

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High Altitude BalloonOur Approach

12Not to ScaleHAB During Ascent

Flight Platform & Parachute

High Altitude Balloon ProjectWeather Balloons

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Large Balloon(6-8 ft in diameter on ground)

Burst Diameter(30+ ft at final altitude)

HAB Flight PlatformLightweight Components

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Flight Computer GoPro Cameras

Commercial Satellite TrackerAPRS Transmitter

Flight PlanningWhat’s Involved?

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• Based upon payload weight, selectballoon size, target altitude andflight 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, ….

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Flight PlanningBalloon Calculator

Launch Site: Winchester, NH elem. School: Lat = 42.767896 / Lon = -72.377026

Balloon Calculator Input Window

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Average ascent speed

Burst altitude

Descent rate (at impact)

Launch date and time

Define launch location

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Flight PlanningFlight Path Modeling Tool

We used an online software package from a HAB prediction

site:http://predict.habhub.org/

APRS TelemetryHAB Packets (From our HAB Test Session via aprs.fi)

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• 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 Radio Club

Type for Balloon, 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,3,0012017-04-07 21:17:50 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,AB1OC-10:!4242.70N/07135.41WO148/000/A=000354RadBug,10C,984mb,3,0022017-04-07 21:18:50 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO148/000/A=000360RadBug,08C,985mb,3,0032017-04-07 21:19:50 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,AB1OC-10:!4242.70N/07135.41WO148/000/A=000360RadBug,06C,985mb,3,0042017-04-07 21:20:50 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO148/000/A=000347RadBug,05C,985mb,3,0052017-04-07 21:21:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO148/000/A=000344RadBug,05C,985mb,3,0062017-04-07 21:22:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO174/000/A=000347RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0072017-04-07 21:23:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO174/000/A=000344RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0082017-04-07 21:24:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO325/000/A=000347RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0092017-04-07 21:25:52 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO325/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0102017-04-07 21:26:52 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,AB1OC-10:!4242.70N/07135.41WO325/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0112017-04-07 21:27:52 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO325/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0122017-04-07 21:28:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO325/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0132017-04-07 21:29:52 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,AB1OC-10:!4242.70N/07135.41WO109/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0142017-04-07 21:30:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO109/000/A=000347RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0152017-04-07 21:31:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO109/000/A=000351RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0162017-04-07 21:32:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO266/000/A=000360RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0172017-04-07 21:33:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO266/000/A=000360RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0182017-04-07 21:34:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO266/000/A=000360RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0192017-04-07 21:35:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.70N/07135.41WO269/000/A=000364RadBug,04C,985mb,3,0202017-04-07 21:36:51 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,NX1W:!4242.71N/07135.41WO269/000/A=000367RadBug,08C,985mb,3,0212017-04-07 21:37:52 EDT: N1FD-11>CQ,WIDE1-1,WIDE2-2,qAR,AB1OC-10:!4242.71N/07135.41WO045/001/A=000364RadBug,13C,984mb,3,0222017-04-07 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

HAB Packets on aprs.fi

HAB’s Flight Path – Predicted vs. ActualTracking via 2m APRS on aprs.fi

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Predicted Flight Path from Pre-Flight Modeling

Actual HAB Flight Track(Tracked via Cell Phones, Tablets,

anything with a Web Browser)

PredictedLanding Pt.

Our HAB’s FlightLaunch, Flight, and Recovery

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Thank You!Nashua Area Radio Club HAB ProjectTeam Members:

• Anthony, KC1DXL

• Brian, AB1ZO

• Curtis, N1CMD

• Jamey, KC1ENX

• Anita, AB1QB

• Fred, AB1OC

• Wayne, AG1A

We are planning another HAB project thisfall and have two schools on-board so far.

If you’d like to partner with us this fall,please contact Fred Kemmerer, AB1OCab1oc@arrl.net

More information, pictures,and video are available on TheNashua Area Radio Club’s website at:www.n1fd.org