Part II of Stratosphere 11/94

Part II of Stratosphere 11/94

Table of Contents

Contents Part II

N0STS-1 (Near Outer Space Transportation System): Clear Lake Amateur Radio Club's First Balloon Launch

Defn: Balloon Launch (n); the ultimate game of hide and seek.

October 9th will go down as one of the most exciting days in Clear Lake Amateur Radio Club (CLARC) history -- our first balloon launch! We successfully launched a 16 ft diameter experimental weather balloon from the airport in Wharton, Texas carrying a package packed with amateur radio payloads and recovered it in Pearland, Texas. Launch occurred at 11:06AM, the balloon envelope burst at about 12:30PM with a touchdown around 1:40PM -- a total flight time of 2 hours 34 minutes! The package was recovered with the help of the Pearland ARC in a field with 5' grass just 200 yards from a ditch full of water. We did get just a little rain the day before the launch but the payload was dry and in pristine condition at recovery --as if someone had just walked in and set it down.

This project really began about a year ago when Dan, KJ5MX, started collecting the "right stuff" to construct and launch a balloon. Around the end of August, Dan enlisted the help of John, AB5SS, to assist with the payloads and other logistics. John solders better than Dan anyway, a fact well-known in the amateur radio community. During the next 6 weeks we learned A LOT about launching a balloon and predicting where it would go.

After many late nights, a lot of fun and a few beers, we assembled several payloads including a 2m packet station utilizing a Kantronics KPC-3 TNC as well as a 10 meter double sideband transmitter (with help from Jason Levy), and a digital voice chip IDer. Other payloads included a 220 MHz beacon and a 29.420 (147.10) MHz "Fireball" transmitter. We also built the world's best quarter-wave 2m ground-plane antenna (from piano wire at a cost of less than 2 dollars), put together the payload cargo bay, constructed a stabilizer fin and a 10m coaxial dipole antenna. We tested and modified as we went along to optimize our payloads. We even carried out a successful integrated simulation of the package with all the payloads operating to test their operation; all was GO at L-7! Next, a plethora of logistic challenges were met: acquisition of helium, working a notification scenario with the FAA, acquiring permission to use the Wharton airport, getting tracking software, wind data and learning to make flight predictions, choosing payload and coordination frequencies -- the task list seemed endless.

The night before launch day (L-1) found KJ5MX and AB5SS up all night in KC5ITR's mobile home with final integration of the package. The packet TNC decided to stop responding to anything sent to it and it required the static RAM chip to be pulled to clear the problem and a complete reprogramming of parameters. David Fanelli, KB5PGY, stopped by for a while to help with testing but missed the parachute assembly and testing at 4 am. A quick shower, change of clothes and acquisition of our DFing equipment and off we flew to the designated launch site --Wharton. Airport. Soon after our trip began, Bob, KA5GLX assumed role of Launch Net Control on 2 meters, 70 cm, and 40 meters.

We arrived at Wharton about 8:30AM and, after a quick chat with the folks at Wharton Airport, we secured some space in the main hanger and started setting up. We planned on launching at 10:00AM but the 2m packet payload acted up and Dan had to adjust it's attitude again. We called Randy, N5SVW, in Fort Worth to get final flight predictions. About 10:50AM (15 minutes before anticipated launch), we contacted the FAA to inform them of the impending event. With the balloon package ready to go, AB5SS handled the balloon, WB5WOW held the parachute, WB5PWG carried the payload package and George Garza kept the 10m antenna straight. The balloon was first out of the hanger where it was met by 20+ knot winds adding yet another challenge to a successful launch. Sheer determination and intestinal fortitude prevailed and the team eventually reached the end of the taxiway beyond the hangers. The balloon which has been completely vertical and quiescent in the hanger now had a mind of its own. The surface wind stretched the envelope horizontally to an unbelievable length and shape which constantly changed with the wind shear forces. Team members were rapidly deployed downwind and the launch sequence was completed. We had successful launch of N0STS-1 at 11:06AM CDST (1606Z). We all watched first unaided and then with binoculars as the balloon rapidly attained altitude and headed in an almost due southerly direction. Within minutes though, and according to flight predictions, the balloon assumed a ENE trajectory and disappeared eventually into the relatively high cloud ceiling.

Within just minutes of launch, KA5GLX in Clear Lake connected to the packet station followed by many others. Connections to the packet station came from all over including such places as Hazelhurst, Mississippi (near Jackson); Louisiana, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Fort Worth, Amarillo, Magnolia, Benbrook, Pearland and of course Houston. It's amazing what 0.75 watts will do from near space! The 10 meter beacon was heard in both far NW Houston and La Marque, unfortunately the band was pretty much dead so no DX was likely. The following calls were heard on packet: KA5GLX, N5QJE, N5SRC, WA5POK, KB5WYY, WD5GAZ, KA5IFU, N5ZDF, W5BRY, N5SUB, KB5UHS, WB5HJV, K5ZTY, N5RPQ, KI5MB, N0KGK, WA5NOM, KC5FMZ, KC5ZXE, N5JVV, KB5AQV, KB5AWM, WT5U, N5MFK, N5EXT, WB5UUK, KI3L, N5RRA, KB5MFM, WB5RTT, KC5DWS, N5JDE, WA5DWX. There were 13 messages left in the "20 Mile High Mailbox".

Now that we had it in the air, the next step was to go recover it when it landed. But first, a stop at Whataburger in Wharton as our stomachs reminded us that we forgotten to eat in all the excitement. The people in the restaurant thought we were escaped lunatics with our radios blaring packet and talking at top of our lungs. The balloon burst about 84 minutes after launch putting it near or over 100,000 feet. The descent took longer than the ascent with a total flight time of 2 hours, 34 minutes with a landing time of 1:40PM. BALLTRAK using 36 hour NOAA data predicted it would land 48.1 miles downrange at 67.2 degrees. Randy's (N5SVW - Fort Worth) flight prediction which used the 7:00AM wind data put it downrange 46.8. miles at 70.5 degrees (Manvel near 288). It actually landed 57.0 miles downrange at 67.2 degrees or 1.2 miles N of Pearland Airport, approximately 9 miles ENE of where my BALLTRAK data predicted. We had a bearing from a satellite station putting it West of Manvel. We concentrated our search in and to the North of the Manvel area. NOT! After it seemed like we had covered every square inch of Manvel it was near 5:30PM and we were exhausted. We decided to pick it up in the morning.

After a 2 hours plus drive, we finally made it back to Clear Lake; KJ5MX dropped AB5SS off and was on the way home when N5QJE, Harris Milton, reported reception of a packet burst on 145.75. This event mobilized the Pearland hams who immediately began a frenzied search-and-rescue campaign. They quickly and methodically tracked it down to a field just NE of the Pearland Emergency Management Center (EMC). Harris and Dick Wilke, N5SPU (our previous CLARC President) jumped into Harris' 4X4 with portable packet and spotlights and took off into the field. After several minutes of RF tracking -- they could hear the audio beepers. Triumph!!! -- They found the payload at 10:10PM in perfect shape and returned it to the EMC. All payloads were still operational, we powered the package down , and then went home and powered down too. It had been a long and glorious day!

We would like to thank the following for their help in making our first balloon launch a success:

* Andy MacAllister, WA5ZIB and the South Texas Balloon Launch Team (STBLT) for the consulting and use of some of the STBLT payloads.

* Lou McFadin, W5DID for use of some very high tech lab equipment.

* Doug Howard, KG5OA and Randy McKinney, N5SVW of the North Texas Balloon Project (NTBP) for providing us with prediction software and landing predictions up to the last minute.

* Gary Shane, WB5WOW for contributing connectors, radios and for help with the launch, tracking and recovery.

* Tom McElhinney, KC5ITR, and his son-in-law, George Garza, for the RV, donuts, video tape and recovery support.

* Mike Davidson, KC5CP for the video coverage, DF expertise and recovery support.

* John Doman, Wharton Airport

* Stan Martin, FAA

* Jason Levy and Dave Flanagan for early parachute testing and deployment designs.

* Bob Biekert, KA5GLX for serving as Balloon Launch Net Control before launch and during flight and for finding just the right repeater for the recovery efforts.

* Other members of CLARC who helped during the launch and recovery: David Fanelli, KB5PGY, Neil Gimemes, KL7HQR, Robert Sorge, KC5FMZ, Jim Heil, KB5AWM, Marwynne Kuhn, WB5PWG and Nick Lance. - Also John Cross, AB5OX who helped during early testing.

* Members of the Pearland ARC who helped during recovery: Craig Boegler, WB5TSN, Marty Haley, AB5GU, John Matejek, Jim Mathis, KC5ADN, Jimbo Mathis, KB5YXP, Sean Mathis, Harris Milton, N5QJE, Jerry Venable, KI5MB, Little Jerry Venable, KB5RGI, Bill Venable, N5RRA and Dick Wilke, N5SPU.

* The owners, trustees, custodian and users of the W5XC 70 cm (444.15 MHz) repeater in Missouri City.

We learned a great deal in the process of getting N0STS-1 up in the air. N0STS-1 had to be designed to operate in a fairly harsh environment. At altitude, the payload is at -70 degrees C but at the same time the air pressure is 1/100th that at sea level and thus there is less air to conduct heat away from the electronics. We were putting transmitters and receivers in very close proximity and RF is radiating everywhere. Shielding and decoupling capacitors become your best friend. Weight is a critical factor, although not as much on N0STS-1, we learned that a little weight here and there adds up quickly. The batteries are very high power density LiSO2 variety. Antennas need to be mounted on the bottom to get the radiation angle back down toward earth. They must also be extremely light. The list goes on. Technically, the project went very well. We know of a few areas to improve upon, but thanks to the South Texas Balloon Launch Team and the North Texas Balloon Project, we averted a lot of beginners mistakes. What we learned was mainly in the organizational area. Some of these lessons learned are listed below:

* Start your logistics preparations about a month before launch.

* Have a person at the launch site dedicated to communications with the outside world or net control.

* Keep the people at the landing area and others monitoring the event informed.

* Coordinate with satellite stations in the landing area to provide the recovery team with bearings on the package before and hopefully after landing. This saved our !@# on N0STS-1.

* Work out your logistics (launch site, helium, FAA, etc. well before launch day. We pulled this one off but barely!

* Establish payload frequencies on quiet areas of the band.

* Don't pick coordination frequencies in the Extra or Advanced portion of the bands.

* Get to the launch site earlier.

* You can never have too much help.

What's next? The ideas for N0STS-2 are already flowing. GPS, ATV, cameras, 10 Gig, ATV, crossband repeater and more are possibilities. We don't know what the payload manifest is just yet, but we promise it will be even more exciting than N0STS-1. Stay tuned and sharpen up those DF skills. More fun to come!

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A Protocol for Coordinating the Tracking and Recovery of Instrument Packages Borne by High Altitude Balloons.(or "Where the heck is it now?")

Edge of Space Sciences, an Amateur Radio group headquartered in the Denver, Colorado metro area has (at this time) launched and successfully recovered 19 high altitude (approximately 100,000 feet) balloon borne instrument packages (Shuttle I). The shuttle, containing an ATV camera with 70 cm (centimeter) downlink, microprocessor, 35 MM camera, 2 meter beacon, as well as other miniaturized experiments is a valuable package that can be re-flown after minor repair and reconfiguration over and over again. Therefore, its recovery is essential to the continued operation of EOSS. The tracking and recovery group (T & R) has developed and improved its procedures to ensure the greatest probability of recovery.

I - Communications

A. Not less than a week prior to launch the T & R chairman and the logistics coordinator select potential repeaters to be used by the hunters during and prior to the flight. Permission is requested from the clubs operating these repeaters since the T & R effort usually monopolizes the repeater for several hours or more. Usually these are wide area 2 meter repeaters, although a recent flight utilized a 70 CM repeater most successfully. In addition, we have used a portable "field repeater" which can be set up anywhere if the flight extends beyond the range of permanent repeaters.

B. We have also experimented with an airborne 70 cm repeater and a cross band repeater actually flown on the balloon package.

C. We are extremely fortunate to have repeaters along the front range of Colorado which are located at 8,000 to 14,000 feet above sea level. Needless to say, these repeaters have superb coverage 40, 50, 60 or more miles to the east. Nevertheless, we must be prepared to have adequate communications beyond these repeaters should the flight exceed this distance. The T & R teams are supplied with a map indicating the location of repeaters on the eastern plains including the border area of Nebraska and Kansas. These repeaters are few and far between.

II - Flight Estimates

A. On the evening prior to a launch winds aloft data is received from the NSW (National Weather Service). This data is processed by WB8ELK's Paratrak program resulting in a range and azimuth estimate from the launch point, The logistics coordinator (L C) plots this data on a standard map (used by all T & R team members) and a grid overlay is placed such that the projected flight path is contained within this 90 by 70 mile grid.

B. The logistics coordinator calls an informal net for the T & R team members (usually at 8 pm Friday evening) and disseminates the grid location utilizing 3 widely spaced reference points, noted by their X, Y coordinates. The launch point coordinates and the predicted touchdown are also noted. (See figure 1- previous page)

T & R team members can locate the grid on their own maps and determine if there are any roads in the area and where they would like to initially position themselves. However, specific spots are not selected since experience shows that some change will probably occur based upon the next morning weather data. In addition, the logistics coordinator usually announces the launch point and predicted touchdown in geographical terms (such as "2 miles north of the intersection of highway 86 and country road 19") for the benefit of hams who do not participate, but who enjoy listening to the progress of a flight, Other sections of EOSS, such as launch team, technical committee, etc. are invited to present any last minute update. If the predicted flight and or touchdown are questionable (such as landing in a metropolitan area or ceiling below minimum) the logistics coordinator brings this to the attention of the launch team.

III - Weather update

A. The morning weather data is processed similarly to that described above and the logistics coordinator plots the new predicted touchdown and begins his drive to a high spot near the predicted touchdown. The logistics coordinator may or may not ride in same vehicle with the computer data analyst. Occasionally it has proved helpful for the logistics coordinator and the data analyst to be able to communicate without consuming valuable air time.

B. As T & R members come on frequency the logistics coordinator advises the new predicted touchdown and changes grid location if necessary. The T & R teams affirm their proposed tracking location. The L C may request that some members relocate and some members may request that they be assigned a location. Unless there has been a significant, unexpected change in the winds aloft (such as a change in the jet stream) this is usually a calm, orderly process.

IV - On Site

A. As each T & R team arrives in their areas, they select a convenient hill top or high point with line of sight to the mountains for repeater access. They then determine their exact grid location and report to the logistics coordinator who plots the locations on his map, Ideally, this results in two concentric circles about the touchdown point at 10 to 20 miles radius, each location with good access to all weather roads in all directions. In reality, we are delighted if 3 or 4 teams have access to something better than a cow path that dead ends in a corn field. The LC may request some teams to quickly relocate to get the best possible tracking data and to eliminate the possibility of several stations "looking down the same pipe". While it is desirable to have 12 to 16 T & R teams, successful recovery is possible with as few as 6 good teams. The logistic coordinator should be near the predicted touch down for best simplex communications (if needed) and to be able to move in any directions as needed.

At this point, the only thing we know for sure is that the predicted touchdown is the one point in the State of Colorado where the pay load will not land. Trust me!

V - Launch

The launch point team is advised by the logistics coordinator that T & R is in place and ready, and requests an update on launch time. There may be a scrub, a delay, or an on time launch. This allows a few moments to relax, check your direction finding (DF) equipment, study the map and reflect upon why you didn't go fishing this morning. Finally launch point advises, "Standby for launch". "Launch at 0812 hours" or some such time. The logistics coordinator notes the time and announces the first beaming will be taken at 0830 and every 15 minutes thereafter. T & R teams announce acquisition of the beacon signal. Any stations with irreparable equipment problems can be reassigned or attached to others.

The logistics coordinator announces 5 minute and 2 minute warnings and then "mark" to ensure that bearings are taken simultaneously. Logistics Coordinator turns the frequency to the computer analyst who waits about a minute and then calls for data. T & R teams report their positions and azimuth to the beacon. The computer crunches the data and provides a best approximation of location for the logistic coordinator (and other team members to plot). The launch point may be able to advise altitude and or a Loran or GPS location, depending upon what experiments are being flown. The computer can compare fox hunter plots with Loran to determine if there are any systematic errors or if a particular tracker has a repeatable error. (an underground pipe or wire can wreak havoc with your compass).

VI - Flight

A. By the time the third bearing is taken, the logistic coordinator must decide if the balloon is traveling in accordance with the flight path estimate or if the balloon has chosen to go some where else. The logistic coordinator may now suggest that the stations farthest away may begin moving to some new location. It is not possible to move the "Circle", so those farthest away should be relocated. This must be done judiciously so that a significant (minimum) number of trackers are able to provide adequate data while others are in motion (see figure 2). Experience tells us to ignore surface winds as they are insignificant when compared to the winds aloft.

B. The logistics coordinator reminds everyone to keep transmissions brief and to keep the frequency as clear as possible.

C. Several rare bearings can be taken until the balloon reaches maximum altitude and bursts. This is noted by altitude telemetry and or ATV of the burst. The launch point advises the exact burst time and the logistics coordinator notes this time and the positions plotted by the T & R teams at the time closet to burst. The logistic coordinator now has "experienced" the latest weather data. Utilizing the ascent flight profile and time and the decent time estimates (the shuttle and its parachute drop like a stone for 30 or 40 thousand feet before the chute significantly retards the fall). The logistics coordinator now climbs way out on a small limb and announces the predicted touchdown based upon ascent data. Tracking and recovery also goes into "rapid fire" mode of data acquisition. Instead of 15 minutes reports we drop to 10 minutes, to 5 minutes, to as fast as possible at the discretion of the computer analyst. The briefest possible transmissions are required so that hunters can be given instructions while data is rapidly pouring in.

D. When the parachute descent is in its last 15 minutes or so the logistics coordinator makes his last estimate of touchdown and asks one or two of the closest teams to head in the proper direction and DF on the fly. It is imperative that the logistic coordinator attempt to position someone close enough to hear the beacon. Terrain features, a broken antenna, or other problem caused by the impact of a parachute landing can easily attenuate the signal so distant stations cannot detect it. It is also imperative that some stations hold their positions and give the best data possible so that if the beacon is disabled upon landing we know where to begin a visual search. Some of the teams put into motion earlier may have to stop to provide additional bearings. If the aircraft is assisting, the logistic coordinator can vector it in for both RDF and visual tracking (the parachute is fluorescent orange and the shuttle is reflective copper). This is the most exciting part of the chase and coordination is largely an exercise in futility. Miraculously, as stations begin to report LOS (loss of signal) some semblance of teamwork returns.

VII - Recovery

We await with high hopes that at least one station announces he still has the signal. The logistics coordinator requests that station to stop where he is and give his location and azimuth and not move until another team acquires the signal. By plotting these two bearing the rest of the hunters can be vectored in. Shortly thereafter, someone announces, "I have a visual on the chute". this is usually followed by his location or perhaps we DF on the transmission. All that is left is to get permission to enter the private property and recover the payload. Sometimes finding the land owner is more difficult than finding the payload.

VIII-Problems and Imperatives

The recovery described above is typical but...

A. We've had balloons fly 90 deg. from the predicted flight path. On a long flight there is not enough time to reset a circle around the new predicted touchdown. Hunters must DF on the fly and hope for the best.

B. If the balloon out runs repeater coverage, it is imperative that all T & R teams switch frequencies together. Even if you have to revert to a backup Simplex, everyone has to be able to communicate. (One flight went to North Platte, Nebraska.)

C. Since we are all hams, it is a given that we like to talk on the radio. During tracking and recovery we must contain ourselves and severely limit transmission to the briefest possible. It is well to think to ourselves, just prior to keying the microphone.

"Does anyone need to know this?"

In addition, the logistics coordinator must be prepared, in his role as net control, to remind others who want to use their favorite repeater that a recovery is in progress. In my experience, those hams have made the briefest of calls and continued on another frequency. This behavior speaks volumes of the courtesy hams show one another. We greatly appreciate this.

D. When everyone announces LOS the logistics coordinator looks for a glimmer of hope on the map board and advises the probable touchdown locations and fervently hopes the shuttle isn't proudly transmitting its beacon 30 miles away. As the hunters converge, everyone listens for the beacon. If we fail to hear the beacon, the hunters meet in person or on the air to determine a search pattern. Since many ranches are miles from roads, the aircraft is invaluable at this juncture. The logistics coordinator gets to direct a ground search operation. Perseverance is a virtue.

IX - Appreciation

The success of the Tracking and Recovery group at EOSS is a function of the effort and expertise of the members. I would like to acknowledge just a few of the fine people who have provided us with the tools of success.

A. Paul Ternlund, WB3JZV, who developed the computer triangulation program which analyzes the tracking data, comparing and rejecting, and finally selecting the best data with which we plot our fixes; and which provides most accurate possible data in 1/10,000 of the time plotting by hand would take. See QST August 1993 "Persistence gets the Derelict".

B, Bob Ragain, WB4ETT, who built the two meter radio beacon which performs so dependably that we forget the environment in which this rig must work. This (miniature) lightweight unit begins its flight at 60 deg. or 70 deg. F and transitions then 60 deg below zero and back again to 70 deg. F above and then absorbs the impact of a parachute landing. Then we change the batteries and expect it to work flawlessly again on the next flight...and it does.

C. KOELM, Greg Burnett is the leader of the T & R group and the glue that keeps us together. He arranges technical meetings that help us improve our methods, coordinates the repeater usage and molds our members into a dynamic force. Greg is gifted with a superb analytical mind and the ability to solve problems "on the run" that would cause may of us to despair.

D. Marty Griffin, WAOGEH, who shares the duty of logistics coordinator and fox hunter extraordinaire, who has the ability to calm every one down when disaster strikes and sure enough, we find a solution.

E. Dan Meyer, N0PUF, who's efficient and intuitive solo RDFing accomplishes more than many three man teams are capable of.

F. And all the other tireless fox hunters who don't know the meaning of quit. Dave Galpin KBOLP, Colleen N0QGH and Dawn N0QCW Ragain, Ed Boyer N0MHU (Air One Pilot and crew), Greg DeWit N0JMH, Ian Zahn KBOHKY, Lonnie Jamison N0PCZ, Marv Jones ADOY, Richard Shaw WB5YOE, Tom Isenberg N0KSR, Tim Moffitt N0NXI, Rick von Glahn N0KKZ, Larry Cernsy N0STZ, Maclom Benton KE9S, Mike Doherty KB0JYO, Bill Andrus N0EUL, Roger Smith N0LEQ

X - Conclusion

So why do we do this? Because it is a challenge and it may be the ultimate fox hunt. And it's fun. At EOSS we have launched 19, and recovered 19 as of this writing. We are constantly improving our techniques and we are pretty good at it. Will we always be 100% You bet!!!

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Presidents corner

What a great article Steve Ford wrote in the October QST about ballooning in general and about our group as well as the EOSS-13 picture from 95,000. As a result of the article, I have received forty some inquiries from all around the country and three from Canada. A dozen of which sent membership dues and also several orders for videos (sorry some videos have been delayed due to a VCR failure).

EOSS has had two flights since the last newsletter. EOSS-18 and on August 27th which was launched from near Monument and EOSS-19 on Oct 22 with the Pitts Middle School in Pueblo, Co. Both of these flights went well. EOSS-18 was the first flight using the spin stabilization experiment. It did slow down the spin, but some improvements are still needed. The flight went only 15 miles northeast of the launch point into the Black Forest area. A package from the NAVSYS company came loose some time after the balloon burst and it was not recovered. All of the EOSS standard equipment worked fine and was recovered in short order by the Tracking and Recovery Team. The folks from NAVSYS, one of our sponsors on flights 17 and 18, provided a barbecue after both flights which was appreciated by everyone after a long day.

The EOSS-19 flight from Pueblo was a real fun one, working with some sixty students as well as their parents and teachers. The original idea was to have a balloon flight in September as a kick off of the New Generation Team (described in the article from N.G.T.) After some discussion a decision was made to delay it a few weeks and let the students get an experiment on board. With Marty Tressel, an EOSS member from Pueblo, doing the interface and Marty Griffin handling the education lead for EOSS an October 22nd flight was scheduled for the flight. The students had two experiments, a solar cell and a ozone experiment which was very ingenious. (See related articles about the schools activity). This also was our first flight of a color camera. I want to thank Marty Tressel for organizing this flight and also getting sponsors for the flight, as well as the donation of the color camera to EOSS. The camera worked well, but we did have a problem with moisture and ice on the mirror. We use a mirror that can be rotated from ground commands to obtain pictures from different angles. The moisture became ice crystals at about 12,000 feet which resulted in very poor video until we got back down to 12,000 feet. This problem appears to be because of a good cleaning job on the mirror and window. This cleaning removed all of the RAIN-X (an anti-fogging agent) and we did not put RAIN-X back on these surfaces. We always learn something the hard way from these flights. As I said earlier, it was a fun experience with all of the student involvement. Several EOSS members said 'this is what it is all about and that it was a rewarding experience.' I received the following letter from Lou Lile one of the teachers that got this New Generation Team started.

Dear Merle:

Hello

I want to thank you and all EOSS members for allowing our New Generation Team to assist with your high altitude balloon launch. We really appreciate the time and energy you shared with us. Coming into our school and making a terrific presentation was wonderful. I am sending you an article to edit and place in your EOSS paper as we discussed.

Our students, parents and teachers had a good Saturday at USC with you. The EOSS members were really good with our students. Several kids in particular who are 'turned off' by the traditional methods of education were totally absorbed on Saturday. You really make a difference!

signed - Lou Lile

Lou tells me that the students are continuing to work with the packet data and will for some time. I want to wish Lou and all of the New Generation Team a lot of success.

end of newsletter

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