EOSS-280 Metro State Intro to Space - Recap

EOSS-280 with eight student payloads weighting 14.32 pounds, two GPS-equipped radio beacons, and a 12 ft. parachute was launched on a 3000 gram balloon from the Deer Trail, CO launch site (N39° 36.63', 104° 2.53') at an elevation of 5,211 feet at 06:53 AM MST on Nov. 4, 2018. The last packet received before balloon burst was at 8:23 AM at an altitude of 106,717 ft. after an ascent averaging 1223 ft./min. Both the burst altitude and ascent rate were above average for a 3000g balloon. The maximum recorded speed was 123 mph at 7:16 AM at an altitude of 36,836 ft. on ascent. This is a bit higher speed than is usually seen and at a bit lower altitude. The parachute and flight string touched down at 9:02 AM at N38° 52.47', W103° 1.97' and were recovered at an elevation of 5,055 ft. after a flight lasting 2 hr. and 9 min. The straight line distance between the launch site and touchdown point was 74 miles. The touchdown point was about 15 miles northwest of the town of Kit Carson, CO (N38° 45.93', W102° 47.64'). The flight string touched down with a vertical speed of 1120 ft/min and a horizontal speed of 14 miles per hour.

 

EOSS Mileage Linkhttps://goo.gl/forms/1P2ZxeN5YDLFLeoA2 

Original Announcement: 

Update 11/3/18 1930:  Payload plans for 280 Heavy and 281 Lite updated to Rev D.     Added a payload and updated weights.  Remember to set your clocks back before going to bed tonight!Windy conditions at Deer Trail Saturday morning would make fill difficult, therefore we will shift to Sunday morning for more favorable conditions.  Predictions are still showing cloud cover, but may be closer to allowing a heavy balloon launch. A decision has been made to identify Deer Trail as the likely launch site. With an earlier sunrise, we will shift Launch time to 0700.One non-exempt Heavy balloon carrying all Intro to Space payloads, if the skys are clear. If clouds exceed 5/10ths the day of the launch, two exempt Lite balloons will be launched, each carrying one of the Intro to Space classes. If cloudy, the balloons will be:

  • EOSS-280 Lite Rev C payload plan
  • EOSS-281 Lite Rev D payload plan. It is suggested you print out all three payload plans to bring with you. These have information on the beacons on each balloon and how you can track them on your smart phone.

Flight and tracking information are available at this link:  http://wxqa.com/eoss280.html  Some of the links will not be active until flight day.

Event Date: 
Sunday, November 4, 2018 - 00:00
Flight Coordinator: 
KCØRPS
Launch Site: 
Grid: 
Grid location is Punkin Center X=20, Y=30 Grid Test: N 39.000 W 103.000 X=57.5 Y=40.3
Flights: 

EOSS-280 Heavy

3000g balloon with Intro to Space payloads (both classes)

Balloon Type: 
Totex 3000g Latex
Parachute: 
12 foot Rocketman
Beacons: 
Beacons
FrequencyCallsignTypeNotes
144.905 MHzKCØD-1Remote Release/DFSecondary Beacon
144.340 MHzAEØSS-13 LiteAPRS/Digi EOSSPrimary Beacon
FrequencyList: 

EOSS Preflight Net @ 8 PM MDT preceding night:
        • 449.225 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 141.3 Hz Tone )  RMHAM Repeater  
        • 146.940 MHz (-600 KHz Offset, 103.5 Hz Tone) RMRL Repeater if the RMHAM machine is down
        • 146.640 MHz (-600 KHz Offset, 100.0 Hz Tone) DRL Repeater will serve as a backup to the backup repeater 

Launch Site:
        • 446.050 MHz Simplex  
        (Note that some radios assume these are repeater frequencies and attempt to put a 5 MHz offset in the transmit frequency automatically)

Track & Recovery Operations:
        Repeaters:
        • 449.450 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 103.5 Hz Tone) RMRL repeater (Assuming we are flying out of Windsor).
        • 448.450 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 100.0 Hz Tone) PPFMA repeater (Assuming we are flying out of Deer Trail).

        Simplex Frequencies:
        • 446.100 MHz Balloon #1 Field Simplex 
        • 446.150 MHz Balloon #2 Field Simplex
        • 446.200 MHz Balloon #3 Field Simplex
        • 446.275 MHz Car to Car drive out Simplex
        (Note that some radios assume these are repeater frequencies and attempt to put a 5 MHz offset in the transmit frequency automatically)

      2M Direction Finding Frequencies:

  • 144.340
  • 144.360
  • 144.905
  • 145.045
  • 145.535
  • 145.645
  • 145.710
  • 145.765

 

Tactical Calls: 
TacticalCall SignNameNotes
AlphaWAØGEH, KCØDMarty, Mark00:07 Tracking Coordinator
BravoW9CN, KBØYRZ, NØJPSMike, Chris, John00:12 Trackers, Alpha Backup
CharlieKDØSEMDave00:17 Launch, Tracker
DeltaKØSCC, NØLPStephen, Nick00:22 Launch, Tracker
EchoKEØORBJohn, Nancy00:27 Tracker
FoxtrotN6BAJeff00:32 Tracker SDR
GolfNB4VBraedon00:37 Tracker
HotelKE7KCKTom00:42 Tracker
India00:47 Tracker
TexasKCØLJohnTracker in Texas
TR Breakfast: 
Launch site is Deer Trail, 7:00 MDT. Predict: Wild Horse, CO (US 40/287 & EW CR-R) (X=58.4 Y=27.8) Weather forecast for Deer Trail at 0700 MST SUNDAY:Clear sky, cloud cover 20%, Visibility >10 miles,Temp 30, dew point 23, winds SSW @ 8 mph Breakfast at IHop, north of Limon Exit, 5:45, Leave at 6:45 This will be a long flight, so be prepared with food, water and, of course, gasoline. Caution: This flight travels SE along US Highway 287. This is a heavily-traveled road with massive agricultural tractor trailers. Please keep trackers and students off this road and parked on side roads. Caution: The weather during recovery operations will be cold (30 degrees) so dress accordingly and assure students are dressed warmly before embarking on the recovery walk.