The second flight of the year will be in conjuction with GPSL in Hutchinson. The flight will be nearly identical to our 2010a flight, except hopefully the software glitch that disabled the W0ZC-11 reports has been fixed.
Danny Orpin is also planning on flying a second Canon camera with the CHDK firmware installed. His camera will reside in a third payload, and the camera will be pointed down.
| Flight Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Launch Date/Time | Saturday, 24 July 2010 at 8:00am |
| Alternative Date | Sunday, 25 July 2010 at 8:00am |
| Launch Site | Hutchinson Airport (38.064094,-97.865365) |
| Primary Transmitter / Antenna | ArduinoTrack controller with Radio Shack HT into a vertically polarized dipole antenna. Signing W0ZC-11. |
| Backup Transmitter / Antenna | Custom PT controller with VX-1R into vertically polarized dipole. Signing AJ0NR-11. |
| Balloon / Gas | Kaymont 1000gram / 240 cu feet of Helium / 9lbs lift. |
| Estimated Burst Altitude | 94,000' MSL |
| Estimated Ascent Rate | 1250' per minute |
| Estimated Descent Rate | Approx. 1100' per minute at touchdown |
| Capsule(s) weight | 2lbs 10oz + 1lbs 8oz + 2lbs 0oz. Total Flight Weight 6lbs 2oz |
| Chase Frequencies | 446.000 |
| Balloon Finder Telemetry Mode | PT Mode 2 |
Flight Results
With coordinating GPSL, this flight again proved to be a rough one with minimal attention paid to it.
We got off to a rough start - upon releasing the lanyards (and thereby the balloon), it was found that one of the kite-string lanyards had become wrapped around the load line. This caused an almost instant shearing of the line, and the balloon/helium was lost. The payloads tumbled back to earth with a firm thud.
Interestingly, both of the Canon cameras left their lenses extended. We didnt' give it much of a second thought and filled a new balloon and re-launched.
On recovering, we realized that somehow during the impact, both cameras can become disabled and did not take any further pictures after the initial "aborted" lift-off.
The landing site wasn't recorded, but was just north of Inman, KS, with a total distance traveled of about 20 miles N-NE.