General Launch Information:
Date: 9/29/07
Departure Time:
- Ham Shack: 05:00
- High School: 05:30
Launch Site: Spangle, WA (outskirts of town)
Landing Site: Palouse, WA
Post Flight Status: (Here)
Goals and Success Criteria
Prior to launch the project management creates specific and measurable success criteria for the launch. In addition each team establishes a set of goals. Team goals are considered secondary to meeting the Mission Success criteria.
Project Success Criteria
Minimum Success
- Payload recovered within 1 week of launch
Mission Success
- Payload recovered within 2 days of launch
- Collect temperature data as a function of time during the entire flight
- Capture and store 100 or more digital still pictures
- Collect and store at least 50% of the tracking packets containing accurate position and altitude data real time during the flight
Full Success
- Payload recovered within the same day of launch
- Collect temperature data as a function of time during the entire flight
- Collect pressure data as a function of time during the entire flight
- Capture and store 200 or more digital still pictures
- Collect and store at least 80% of the tracking packets containing accurate position and altitude data real time during the flight
- Reach peak altitude of at least 90,000 ft
Team Launch Goals
Communications
- Track and recover the balloon
- Receive at least 75% of packets
- Evaluate new tracking software
C&DH
Science/Instrumentation
- Observe
- Get baseline data
- Use this as a planning tool to decide what our Spring Launch priorities are
Ground Station
- Evaluate GoogleEarth's offline usability (including topo maps and aprs/igate tower add ons)
- Evaluate RoadNav Mapping Software
- Run GPSD on 1+ routers (preferably with an internal GPS)
- Test com2tcp with older mapping software (for backwards compatibility)
Structures
- Obtain internal temperature readings on Waldo to better understand its thermal properties.
- Capsules return with minor or no damage requiring less than 15min to repair.
Roles and Responsibilities
Each team member volunteers for a role on launch day. There are two catagories of roles, project level roles and team level roles. The project level goals include: Head Flight Planner, Launch Coordinator, Tracking Coordinator, Recovery Coordinator, and Communication Specialists. Team level roles include: Photographer, Head Note Taker and other specialized roles specific to the team.
Management Roles
| Flight Planner | Austin Howard |
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| Launch Coordinator | Justin Schlee |
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| Tracking Coordinator | Evan Hart |
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| Recovery Coordinator | Rody Wilcox |
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| Communications Specialists | Rody Wilcox - Blazer Alex Odom - School Bus |
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Team Roles
| Communications | Kelli Anderson Jasper Nance Matt VavRosky |
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| Controll & Data Handling |
Nikolas Urlaub Justin Schlee Chris Douglas Gabe DeRuwe |
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| Science/Instrumentation | Blair Carter & jeff Eggebraten Andrew Breshears & Jessica Smith |
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| Ground Station | Cliff Murphy Alex Simmons |
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| Structures | Delaun Smith Kelli Anderson David Eld |
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Launch Procedures
Prior to launch the teams create a collaborative procedure for assembling the payload and checking for critical functionality. A final launch checklist is also used to confirm that all systems are ready for launch.
- Begin filling the balloon
- Assemble capsules
- Turn on camera and system located in the high school capsule
- Secure attachments
- Radios are on and set to correct frequency
- Talk button is protected
- Verify data is being received
- Attach harnesses to capsules
- Attach parachute and capsules to balloon
- Attach cut-down system
- Final verification of signal transmission
- Lift-off
Tracking and Recovery Plan
We will have two tracking stations set up. Both will be mobile units. The Lima unit will drive to the launch site and set up the balloon for launch and confirm functionality prior to launch. The Romeo unit will situate its-self at the highest spot as close as possible to the predicted landing zone. Prior to release, Lima will contact Romeo (via cell phone) and confirm that Romeo is ready to receive. Upon release Lima will pack up and drive furiously with great abandon to the location of Romeo. Upon balloon burst, indicated by a rapid decrease in reported altitude, Romeo will pack up the BBQ and prepare to move to the expected landing site.
Lima and Romeo form up to create Vandal. Vandal packs up the capsule and returns to campus.
| Justin's Truck | Suburban | School Bus |
 Launch Site |
 Recovery Vehicle |
Launch Site Launch Site |
| Personnel | Personnel | Personnel |
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| Equipment | Equipment | Equipment |
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Radio Frequencies
VAST uses amateur radio to track the payload in real time and transmit telemetry data from the balloon to the mobile ground units.
Transmitters:
| Unit | Use | Callsign | Frequency | Data | Time Interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenwood F6A - TinyTrack | Primary | KE7JWX-1 | 144.390 | APRS (AX.25) | 72 sec |
| Kenwood F6A - Microtrak | Secondary | KE7JWW | 144.390 | APRS (AX.25) | 87 sec |
| BeeLine | Testing | KE7GDZ-1 | 441.050 | APRS (AX.25) | 15 sec |
| BeeLine | Testing | KE7GDZ-2 | 441.050 | APRS (AX.25) | 35 sec |
Receivers:
| Unit | Operator | Freq: Pri/Sec | Computer | Software | Antenna |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenwood D700 | Matt Vav | 144.390/441.050 | Matt's Laptop | APRSPoint | Dual Band Roof Mount |
| Kenwood D7 | Rody (KE7GDZ) | 144.390/441.050 | Rody's Laptop | APRSPoint | Single Band Roof Mount |
Flight System
Parachute / Balloon Info
- Parachute Type: Rocketman R12C
- Balloon Type: Latex
- Size: 1500 g
Target Flight Rates
- Free Lift: TBD
- Ascent Rate: 1000 ft/min
- Descent Rate: 1200 ft/min
- Peak Altitude: 100,000 ft
Payload
BC 1 - Waldo |
Yellow Comm Box |
BAMF |
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Contents:
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Contents:
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Contents:
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| Mass: ? | Mass: ? | Mass: ? |
Trajectory/Weather Predictions (Prediction Tutorial)
VAST uses multiple trajectory prediction tools including an online tool. Weather forecasts are also used for planning and logistics. Launches are postponed if surface winds are dangerously high or if there is too much precipitation. The wind speed in the jet stream is also an important consideration. If winds are too high, the launch team will have to drive long distances to avoid forested landings in northern Idaho.
FAA/Sheriff Information
A NOTAM is filed the day before launch. In addition a fax is sent to the surrounding sheriffs offices to inform them of our activities. The relevant details of the launch are summarized in the link below.
NOTAM
Sheriff Fax
Contacts
Leaders Contacts
Sheriff Contacts
FAA Contacts
