This will be Project: Traveler's entry into the 2004 Great Plains Super Launch in Hutchinson, Kansas. This flight will conclude the testing of the new, time-slotted firmware, as well as Jon Riley's (AJ0NR) high-alitude capsule.
| Flight Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Launch Date/Time | Saturday, 3 July 2004 at 8:00am |
| Alternative Date | Sunday, 4 July 2004 at 8:00am |
| Launch Site | Sunflower Aerodrome (37° 55.58'N, 97° 54.37'W) near Hutchinson, KS |
| Primary Transmitter / Antenna | VX-1R HT running APRS on 144.34MHz / Vertically polarized dipole |
| Backup Transmitter / Antenna | Radio Shack HT running APRS on 144.39MHz / Vertically polarized dipole |
| Balloon / Gas | Kaysam 1200gram / 220 cu feet of Helium |
| Estimated Burst Altitude | 95,000' MSL |
| Estimated Ascent Rate | 1000' per minute |
| Estimated Descent Rate | Approx. 1100' per minute at touchdown |
| Capsule(s) weight | 5lb 3oz including parachute, rigging, batteries, etc... |
| Chase Frequencies | 146.49MHz, 7.2535MHz |
| Balloon Finder Telemetry Mode | PT Mode 2 |
Flight Results
The Great Plains Super Launch was awesome this year with a total of six balloons lifting off all at the same time.
| Flight Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Launch Date/Time | Saturday, 3 July at 8:57am |
| Launch Site | McPherson Airport (38° 21.146'N, 97° 41.479'W) in McPherson, KS |
| Burst Altitude | About 94,467ft (28,794m) MSL |
| Average Ascent Rate | 1159ft/min (5.89m/s) |
| Measured Descent Rate | 1257ft/min (6.39m/s) |
| Touchdown Site | 1 mile east of Newton, KS (38° 1.7085'N, 96° 18.2869'W) |
| Touchdown Time | Saturday, 3 July 2004 at 10:56am |
| Recovery Time | Saturday 3 July 2004 at 11:10am |
| Distance Traveled | 78 miles (126km) as the crow flies |
| Total Flight Time | 1 hour 59 minutes |
| Downloads | Lat/Lon File, Log File, Flight Analysis |
Lessons Learned
- We flew two Lithium-Ion packs - one for the camcorder and one for the backup beacon. Both packs worked perfectly.
- We had a downward facing camcorder, however some water got on the plexiglass shield after the capsule was set down in some dewy grass.