EOSS-290 GPSL Pella, Iowa - Recap

EOSS-290 with the KCØRPS Geiger counter module, a KCØD APRS radio beacon on a qualification flight, and KE7KCK's GoPro camera weighting a total of 2.71 pounds along with two GPS-equipped radio beacons, and a 10 ft. Rocketman parachute were launched on a 1200 gram balloon from the Pella High School athletic fields in Pella, Iowa  (N41° 23.658', W92° 53.328) at an elevation of 855 feet at 08:14:07 AM on June 15, 2019.  The last packet received before balloon burst was at 9:50 AM at an altitude of 99,778 ft. after an ascent averaging 986 ft./min.  The the maximum balloon speed of 63 mph was recorded at 10:08:106 AM at an altitude of 43,066 ft. on descent.  The parachute and flight string touched down at 10:50:45 AM at N40° 231.621', W92° 53.328' and were recovered at an elevation of 872 ft. after a flight lasting 2 hr. and 43.5 min.  the landing site was 23.6 miles from the launch site.  The horizontal touchdown speed was 1 mph and the vertical speed was 263 ft./min.  The touchdown point was about 1.3 miles north of the town of Barnes City, IA (N41° 30.494', W92° 28.215').  The payload string and parachute were easily retrived about 160 ft. off a county road in a newly planted field.     NØLP   Videos of the launch, recovery and burst may be viewed on the EOSS YouTube channel here: EOSS on YouTube

 

Original Announcement: 

Great Plains Super Launch (GPSL) is an annual High Altitude Balloon Symposium.  For 2019 it  will be in Pella, IA,, June 13, 14 and 15.  Hosted by Pella Explores Near Space (PENS)EOSS usually attends for a day of tours, HAB discussions and a group launch.  Watch https://www.superlaunch.org/ for details.Jeff (N6BA) will be presenting information about the EOSS SDR Tracker. NOTE: We will be using 145.645 MHz as the tracking/beaconing frequency for this flight.  We are testing a new configuration of the radio in KCOD-15 to hopefully improve digipeating and want to test in under real flight conditions.  In addition, please note that the bottom frequency is 145.765. EOSS is not using 144.340 MHz duirng this flight.The flight prediction can be found here

Event Date: 
Saturday, June 15, 2019 - 08:00
Flight Coordinator: 
Nick N0LP
Grid: 
X=15, Y=50 Test: N 41.500 deg., W 92.900 deg. Answer: X=15.5, Y=80.4
Flights: 

EOSS-290

Balloon Type: 
Kaymont 1200g
Parachute: 
Rocketman 10'
Beacons: 
FrequencyCallsignTypeNotes
144.905KC0D-1APRS/DF/ReleasePaired with release Baker
145.645KC0D-15APRS/DigiUse this frequency to Track/Beacon
145.765AE0SS-13APRSBackup "Bottom" Beacon
FrequencyList: 

EOSS Preflight Eyeball Net preceding night:

The launch site will be Pella Christian High School practice fields (on the east side of the school building @ 300 Eagle Lane), 41.3936, -92.8897 (N 41 23.616, N 92 53.382)
 

Launch Site Frequency:

  • 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: Pella area repeater TBD

        Simplex Frequencies:
        • 446.100 MHz EOSS Balloon Field Simplex 
        • 446.150 MHz Balloon #2 Field Simplex
        • 446.200 MHz Balloon #3 Field 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
  • 145.535
  • 145.645
  • 145.710
  • 145.765
Tactical Calls: 
TacticalCall SignNameNotes
AlphaWAØGEH-9, KC0D, N0WPRMarty, Mark, Sharon, PaulaAlpha Team
BravoKC0LJohn, EileenBravo, Alpha Backup, Texas
CharlieK0JWB, K0NKKJohn, NancyTrackers
DeltaKC0RPS, N0LPJim, Nick, Randy
EchoN2XGL, N6BA, KE0NZVJeff, Jeff. JeffConfusing conversations in that car!
Foxtrot
GolfN0NDM, KB0YRZ, W0CBHLarry, Chris, Jen, Benjie, RosieTracker, Basketball team
HotelKD0SEMDave, CherylTracker
IndiaKE7KCKTomTracker, EOSS President
Juliet
KiloW7MJK, KG7ORBMike, NickTrackers, Pico, Wyoming
TR Breakfast: 
At Hotel prior to leaving for launch site