EOSS-354 NDIA Flight - Recap

On Sunday, March 17, 2024, one 2000 gram balloon was launched from Deer Trail Colorado carrying student payloads sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA  --  https://ndiarmc.org/ ). 

The payloads consisted  of 250 student experiments inside 3 Payload boxes.  These experiments were from schools in Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Virginia and Mississippi.

EOSS-354 launched at 8:10 am, Released at 9:19 am at 98,888 feet and landed at N 39.33587, W 103.67833  (1/2 mile west of CO-142, 1.5 mile north of I-70 & CO-86 intersection, 8.5 miles NW of Limon, Colorado).  Recovery teams were within 1-2 miles from the landing site at 10:00 am MDT when the payload string touched down.

Link for EOSS mileage reimbursement  https://forms.gle/qJjy47iTHF5ywDPJ6

Link to Flight Video Edge of Space Flight Summary - 17 March 2024 (rumble.com)

Link to additional Flight Videos on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/strato.missions/videos

 

Original Announcement: 

One 2000g balloon (EXEMPT) carrying student payloads sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA  --  https://ndiarmc.org/ )  - Planned launch time 0800 MDT. 

The payloads will consist of 250 student experiments inside 3 Payload boxes.  These experiments are from schools in Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Virginia and Mississippi.

Flight predictions can be found at https://www.eoss.org/predict/

 2/28/2024 Payload Plan Rev A issued to reflect 2000g Balloon and changes in Student Payload weights

ALERT - Due to the impending Winter Storm Watch, flight MAY be shifted to Sunday 3/17.  Check into this page daily, then refresh your browser for the latest updates.

3/13/2024 Payload Plan Rev B issued to reflect NDIA provided final payload weights

ALERT - Flight now confirmed for Sunday 3/17 for launch at 0800.

ALERT - Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all !

 

 

Event Date: 
Sunday, March 17, 2024 - 08:00 to 23:45
Flight Coordinator: 
John Dinneen KCØL & Jim Langstead KCØRPS
Launch Site: 
Grid: 
Punkin Center X=30, Y=20. Grid Test N 38.00, W 103.00 = X 67.5, Y 30.3
Flights: 

EOSS-354

Balloon Type: 
Kaymont 2000 gram Latex
Parachute: 
12 foot Rocketman with Remote Release Charlie
Beacons: 
FrequencyCallsignTypeNotes
144.340AEØSS-12APRS/Digi EOSSATime Slotted @ 0:27 & 0:57
144.905KCØD-3Remote release/DF
Payload Plan: 
FrequencyList: 

EOSS Preflight Net @ 7 PM Mountain Time the preceding night:

 The preflight net is hosted on the Fun Machine linked system https://www.we0fun.com/  

EchoLink *CANONCTY* conference and on the TGIF DMR Network Node: 1997 Talkgroup 815

Denver area Frequencies: 

    • 449.225 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 141.3 Hz CTCSS) Mt Thorodin
    • 448.150 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 141.3 Hz CTCSS) DIA
    • 449.975 Mhz (-5 MHz Offset, 100 Hz CTCSS) Westcreek
    • 447.525 MHz (-5 MHz Offset, 146.2 Hz CTCSS) Devils Head   

Back up Preflight Net Frequincies

        • 146.940 MHz (-600 KHz Offset, 103.5 Hz CTCSS) Rocky Mountain Radio League (RMRL) Repeater if the RMHAM machine is down
        • 146.640 MHz (-600 KHz Offset, 100.0 Hz CTCSS) Denver Radio League (DRL) Repeater will serve as a backup to the backup repeater 

Flight Day:
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 linked with Limon 447.650 (-5 MHz Offset, 103.5 Hz Tone)


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

Digital Mobile Radio (DMR):

The decision as to which talkgroup use will be made by the EOSS RF Coordinator on a per flight basis.

  • Rocky Mountain Wide Network – Talk Group 700 - Rocky Mountain Ham Radio has approval to the use "Wide" for flight operations.
  • Central Colorado Regional Network – Talk Group 720 - On occasion, EOSS may use the Central Colorado Regional Network (Talk Group 720).

        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
  • 144.905 
Tactical Calls: 
TacticalCall SignNameNotes
AlphaWAØGEHMarty and Dave Barrett
BravoNØRPF, KØBRARob, Doug (After Launch)
YankeeBrad, unavailable
CharlieKEØPAMNorm
Ground StationRandy
FoxtrotNØNDM, KDØNTLarry (After Launch), Jim Dallin, Jace Quintero
GolfKEØUWC, KFØMBR, KFØNLQ, KFØPCWGlenn, John, Ann, Doug
TangoKCØLJohn - from Texas and FC
HotelKCØRPS, N1GUMJim, from launch site, Peter
TR Breakfast: 
None scheduled - trackers report to Deer Trail Launch site