EOSS-297/298 NDIA STEM & EOSS Qualification Flight - Recap

 Norm Black has put together a flight video summary of the NDIA STEM Edge of Space Mission at https://youtu.be/ykuFqg89vKc . There is also a slide show posted here, showing pictures taken every 10 seconds during the flight. The slide show takes about nine minutes to view.

 Flight Summary: Two exempt balloons were launched from Windsor on Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 0830 and 0849. Both balloons flew close, but somewhat ahead of the prediction (shown on this map). To prevent an extended recovery into Nebraska, EOSS-297 was cut down at 85,722 feet and EOSS-298 was cut down at 86,188 feet. EOSS-297 landed 5.3 miles north of I-76 northeast of Sterling and 3 miles north of the town of Proctor on Federal Highway 138 (40.84881, -102.93862). This was 109 miles downrange. EOSS-298 landed 2.2 miles south of I-76, aproximately 5 miles south of the town of Sedgwick on Federal Highway 138 (40.86064, -102.54580). This was 129 miles downrange.

The mileage link for EOSS members is https://goo.gl/forms/1P2ZxeN5YDLFLeoA2

 

Original Announcement: 

Thur 3/12: THE LAUNCH DATE & LOCATION HAVE BEEN MOVED TO WINDSOR ON SUNDAY 3/15 AT 0830 MDT! The pre-flight net will be held at 8pm on Saturday on the repeater noted below.

Payload plans Rev C have been posted. The prediction is available at www.eoss.org/predict and detailed information about tracking the beacons are available at http://wxqa.com/eoss297.html.

Please note that there will NOT be restroom facilities available at the launch site. Please stop at the service station as you arrive and depart the launch site.

EOSS will conduct these flights in memory of Merle McCaslin KØYUK (SK), one of the founders of Edge of Space Sciences. Both balloons will beacon, in Morse Code, "In memory of KØYUK(SK), EOSS original Balloonmeister." Merle will be missed.

  • One balloon carrying STEM payloads from multiple schools. The flight is sponsored by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) - Rocky Mountain Chapter
  • One balloon with EOSS equipment for qualification.

Sunrise is at 7:12am MDT and launch will be at 8:30am MDT

Event Date: 
Sunday, March 15, 2020 - 00:00
Flight Coordinator: 
KC0RPS
Launch Site: 
Grid: 
LAst Chance X=50,Y=20 Test N 39.750, W 101.636 Ans X=154, Y=21.8
Flights: 

EOSS-297

National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) STEM Flight

Balloon Type: 
Totex 1500g Latex
Parachute: 
12 foot Rocketman with wireless release Baker
Beacons: 
Beacons
FrequencyCallsignTypeNotes
144.340 MHzKØSCC-14APRS/Digi EOSSPrimary, Timeslotted at 0:10 and 0:40
144.905 MHzKCØD-2Remote Release/DFSecondary.
Payload Plan: 

EOSS-298

EOSS equipment for flight qualification

Balloon Type: 
Totex 1500g Latex
Parachute: 
12 foot Rocketman with wireless release Adam
Beacons: 
FrequencyCallsignTypeNotes
144.340 MHzAEØSS-12APRS/Digi EOSSAPrimary. Timeslotted at 0:27 and 0:57
145.765 MHzKCØD-14Remote Release/DFSecondary.
Payload Plan: 
FrequencyList: 

Frequencies for these launches

EOSS Preflight Net @ 8 PM MDT preceding night:
        • 449.225 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 141.3 Hz Tone ) 
        • 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 (since we are up North, we will use this repeater).
        • 448.450 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 100.0 Hz Tone) PPFMA repeater

DMR (using the RMHAM system)

  • Rocky Mountain Wide
  • Colorado Central as a backup


        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)

        Legacy 2M Simplex Frequency (not generally used due to desense/interference issues with the 2M APRS packets)
        • 146.550 MHz Simplex

2M Direction Finding Frequencies:

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

 

Tactical Calls: 
TacticalCall SignNameNotes
AlphaWA0GEH-9, KC0D-9, N0LPMarty, Mark, Nick
BravoW9CN, KB0YRZ, N0JPSMike, Chris, John
CharleyKC0RPS, W0GVJim Flight Controller, Gerry
DeltaK0SCC, KE0BMU,Stephen, Whitney, Teresa Pappas
EchoKE7KCKTom
FoxtrotKC0ZIEDarrenWelcome Back!
GolfK0JWB, K0NKKJohn, Nancy
Ground StationN2XGL, KB0TVJJeff, Russ, Randy
HotelN0IXDougWelcome Back!
IndiaKE0GKIBernadetteCU, ADS-B Caretaker
TangoKC0L, KE0YALJohn, BradWelcome New Tracker Brad!
JulietKE0PAMNormNDIA Director
KiloN6BAJeff D.SDR Wizard
TR Breakfast: 
The launch site has changed to Windsor, 0830 and 08:50. Breakfast, 0800 McDoanlds Brush, CO. Prediction for (Wednesday) is 3 mi south of I-76, Exit 155. Download the new payload plans from this Web page. Teams will move northeast from the front range on I-76 and meet in Brush at McDonalds. Lunch will be at at Lucy's (Exit 165). Lucy has real food and a grill. As a heads up, on 298, one of the payloads from K0NKK (Nancy) will require some special handling upon recovery. Please contact Alpha to learn of these handling procedures. Gas up as this is a long trip!! Hydrate!