Status: Partial Mission Success
Original Launch Plans: (Here)
Project Manager's Summary
On March 02, 2008 the Vandal Atmospheric Science Team launched two foam capsules containing tracking equipment and an experimental student designed data acquisition system. Upon release the balloon and payload quickly ascended to an altitude of nearly 50,000 ft above sea level. The payload reached a maximum horizontal speed of 170 mph and traveled a distance of 72 miles. The final destination for the payload was in Lewiston Idaho.
Due to the high wind speeds, it was decided to launch the payload with a smaller balloon. The target altitude was 35,000 feet. With this altitude the predicted flight trajectory place the capsule landing just north of Moscow, Idaho. Due to the nearly 15,000 ft of additional altitude, the payload traveled farther than projected. Despite the extra distance the payload traveled, it was still recovered before noon.
During this launch, the University of Idaho amateur radio club (W7UQ) facilities were modified to act at a central command center. From the command center, the balloon was tracked real time using both direct radio contact and packets over the online APRS network. Communication between most of the field vehicles was also maintained for the majority of the launch event.
Another first for the launch was the upgraded Byonics APRS transmitters. The increased power output of the new tracking units helped our team to collect 100% of the primary positioning packets. A student designed amplifier board was also used to dramatically increase the reliability of the secondary tracking unit.
Timeline
| Left Moscow: | 5:15 AM |
| Arrived at Launch Site: | 6:40 AM |
| Balloon Launcn: | 7:37 AM |
| Balloon Burst: | 8:09:42 AM |
| Contact with Surface: | 8:42 AM |
| Recovered Capsule: | 10:05 AM |
| Arrived Home: | 10:15 (Pickup) 10:50 (Jaspermobile) 10:30 (SUB) ? (W7UQ) |
Highlights
| Max altitude reached: | 49,291 ft | ||||||
| MT300 MT8000 FA BRB |
45/45 packets = 100% 35/35 packets = 100% 187/390 packets = 47.9% |
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| Max velocity (both horizontal and vertical) and altitude in which the velocity was reached: |
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| Average ascent and descent rates: |
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| Ground distance traveled, separated into ascent distance and descent distance: |
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| Total flight time separated into ascent time and descent time: |
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Data
Raw Data
This is where you can find all the raw packets, telemetry, and pictures taken during the day.
Data Analysis
- Temperature (internal and external) vs Alt
- Speed vs altitude 1 2
- Ascent Rate vs Time 1 2
- Altitude vs time - Plot both actual and predicted : Actual 1 2
- Actual flight track vs predicted flight track plotted on the same map (with same starting location)
- One spread sheet with all flight data logged vs altitude saved in excel format
Pictures
Google Earth Plot
Post Flight Equipment Status
Battery levels
- MT8000FA Pack Voltage 16.19V / 16.8V = 83% charge remaining
- MT300 Pack Voltage 15.59V / 16.8V = 65% charge remaining
- BRB-Amp Pack Voltage 3.90V / 4.2V = 67% charge remaining
- BRB Pack Voltage 3.86V / 4.2V = 63% charge remaining
Individual Team Assessment
Link to an assessment page for each team
Each team post discussion of goals and outcomes, assessment of launch, top 3 lessons learned
