EOSS-218 CU Boulder & STEM School Flight

KCØRPS's picture
Submitted by KCØRPS on Fri, 03/11/2016 - 12:26

An Additional Link and Pictures Posted Today (2/27/2016)

This flight was a real test of patience for everyone! Arriving at the site we encountered thick fog with visibility less than 1/4 mile. Since our FAA waiver requires 5 mile visibiltiy to launch, we had to delay our 0700 launch. The NWS forcast indicated that the fog would lift by 0900. At that time the fog was just as thick as before. We called the FAA and asked if we could launch later in the day. They said any time after 1130 would be acceptable. Payloads were powered down and everyone scattered for breakfast. At 1130 visibility was still minimal, maybe 1/2 mile. We decided to wait until 1230 to start balloon fill for a maximum 1300 launch. At 1230 a decision was made to wait until 1300, then 1315, then 1330. Between 1315 and 1330 the sky brightened and visibility improved. At 1345 visibility was verified to exceed 5 miles and the balloon fill commenced. Launch occured at 1358 with cheers all around.

The flight followed the prediciton reasonably well and landed south of Brush Colorado within 100 meters of the road. The landowner was easily contacted and agreed to retrieval from their property. All student teams were able to retrieve their payloads and were happy with the initial results.

Nick NØLP our EOSS Ground Station Lead has put together a great slideshow summary of the flight. Please take a look here. It is a large download, so be patient.

Jim KCØRPS, Flight Coordinator

  •  NSSTI is posting results on Facebook here. Norm, NSSTI President has posted his flight video here.
  •  Douglas County STEM Acadamy has posted a video demonstrating their spin stabilization here.
  •  Denver School of the Arts Amateur Radio Club flight summary page.

 

EOSS 218 mileage reimbursement page for EOSS members

Recap Gallery: 
Original Announcement: 

EOSS-218 is a GO for 0700 launch from Eaton Middle School on Saturday, Feburary 13th. The predicted path is shown here.Remember: final masses are due by noon Friday.Tracking information: you can view various tracking links here. If you would like to follow the flight from your smart-phone or tablet (in the car while tracking or at home on your sofa) you can follow the balloon at www.aprs.fi/AE0SS-13 <--correction! (that is a zero). Maps and altitude plots will be posted to this web page after the flight.EOSS-218 will fly a University of Colorado Boulder HDTV signal monitoring experiment and several payloads in support of schools with programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).  Stratospheric experiments from:

  • Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment
  • Douglas County STEM Academy
  • National Space Science & Technology Institute
  • Eaton Middle School
  • Estes Park Engineering Class
  • Denver School of the Arts Amateur Radio Club
Event Date: 
Saturday, February 13, 2016 - 00:00
Flight Coordinator: 
Jim KCØRPS
Launch Site: 
Eaton Middle School
Grid: 
Last Chance X 80, Y 10 Test N40.3180 W 104.7536 Answer: 20, 50
Flights: 

EOSS-218

Payload check-in: 0545

Launch time: 0700

Flight path predictions are available here. Scroll down to the flight, date, and anticipated launch site. Click on the GIF link to the right to see a prediction map. Initially the prediction is based on the average winds over 30 years (1981-2010). Starting 15 days before the flight the prediction will be based on the National Weather Service prediction models and will be updated daily. Higher confidence is given to predictions within 3 days of launch, with discussion and final determination of the launch site occurring at that time.

Balloon Type: 
Totex 3000g Latex
Parachute: 
10 ft circumference Sphereachute
Beacons: 
FrequencyCallsignTypeNotes
145.600 MHzKEØBMV-11APRS/Cutter/DFSecondary Beacon
144.340 MHzAEØSS-13APRS/DigipeaterPrimary Beacon
144.390 MHzKEØFXH-1APRS BeaconExperimental Payload
Payload Plan: 
PDF icon EOSS-218_Payload_Plan_revD.pdf
FrequencyList: 

Preflight Net:

THE PRE-FLIGHT NET OCCURS AT 8PM ON THE EVENING BEFORE THE LAUNCH. Everyone is welcome to listen and hams are encourged to check in to the net. The EOSS Launch Team and EOSS Tracking Team will exchange the details necessary for a successful flight.

  • 147.225 MHz CRA Repeater (107.2 Hz Tone) 8 pm MDT preceding night
  • 146.940 MHz (103.5 HZ Tone) RMRL Repeater if the CRA machine is down
  • 146.640 MHz (100 Hz Tone) DRL will serve as a backup frequency

Recovery Operations:

  • 449.450 MHz RMRL (103.5 Hz Tone)
  • 448.225 MHz (141.3 Hz Tone) Testing… PL verified 7/2/14
  • 448.450 MHz (100.0 Hz Tone) PPFMA
  • 446.100 MHz Field Simplex
  • 146.550 MHz Backup field simplex

Driving Coordination:

  • 446.275 MHz
  • 146.55 MHz
  • 146.58 MHz

Launch Site Simplex: 446.050 MHz

HF - Possible ops: 7.235 LSB

Tactical Calls: 
TacticalCall SignNameNotes
AlphaWAØGEHMartyAlpha Trackers
BravoW9CN, KBØYRZMike, ChrisBravo Tracker Team, Backup Alpha
CharlieKCØRPSJimFlight Coordinator, Tracker
DeltaKBØLPDaveTracker
EchoKDØSEM, KEØCQQDave, RyanTracker, Saturday Only
FoxtrotKE7KCKTomTracker, plus riders
GolfWBØDKT, KG6HXMGlenn, SamTracker, plus riders, Saturday Only
HotelNØIXDougTracker
TR Breakfast: 
As of 10:30 am Thursday morning, the launch site remains at Eaton, CO. Stay alert to any launch site changes due to cloud cover. Change!! Breakfast will be in Brush at Drover's Restaurant 28601 US Hwy 34, Brush, CO 80723, 970-842-4218, 6:00 preparing to leave at 6:45. From I-76, take exit 90A south (Highway 71) to Edison Street, turn East (Left) to Drovers. There are 7 schools involved with probably over 100 students and parents. We will want to get to the recovery site as soon as possible to secure the area and gain landowner permission. Let's be sure to brief the students before entering the land. Advise students to wear good footwear, warm clothes and take water. John, KCØL will not be able to run the net from Texas on Friday night due to some repeater issues. Mike, W9CN will run the net - thanks Mike.