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Flight #44 - 2025c

Flight 44 will be another experimental flight, to build flight hours on the latest version of the ptSolar tracker, as well as the newly redesigned ptFlex trackers.

There may also be a Horus weather sonde tracker going up on the string as well.

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Flight Parameters

Launch Date/Time

Sunday August 3, 2025 at 8:00am (13:00Z)

 

Alternative Date

Saturday August 2, 2025 at 8:00am (13:00Z

Note that the alternate date would be the Saturday before.

Launch Site

TBD (38.00N, 97.00W)

 

Capsule 1

(Track)

Tracker: Battery powered ptSolar signing W0ZC-11

  • 300mW
  • 144.39MHz 

Sensors: n/a

Beaconing: Timeslot

  • Beacons every 45 seconds
  • Path is disabled above 2000m MSL.

Cameras: 

  • n/a

0.35kg

Capsule 2

(Track)

Tracker: Solar powered ptSolar tracker signing W0ZC-12

  • 500mW
  • 144.34MHz
  • Courtesy Tone

Sensors: n/a

Beaconing: Delay

  • Beacons every 55 seconds depending on solar charge
  • GPS Enabled at 3.5V
  • Transmit Enabled at 4.1V
  • Path is disabled above 2000m MSL.

Cameras: n/a

 0.02kg

Capsule 3

(Track)

Tracker: Battery powered ptSolar tracker signing W0ZC-13

  • 500mW
  • 144.34MHz
  • Courtesy Tone

Beaconing:

  • Beacons every 50 seconds.
  • Path disabled above 2000m

Cameras: 

  • Canon 570-IS with CHDK firmware

0.70kg

Capsule 4

Tracker: Iridium Tracker

0.23kg

Recovery / Misc

Parachute and misc rigging.

0.30kg

Flight Weight

Total neck weight on balloon.

1.60kg

Balloon / Gas

1200g Kaymont with 4.2cu meters of Hydrogen.

  • Neck Lift: 3.1kg
  • Net Lift: 1.5kg

 

Estimated Burst Altitude

31,700m MSL (104,000')

 

Estimated Ascent Rate

5.6m/s (1,100'/min)

 

Estimated Descent Rate

4.6m/s (900'/min) velocity at touch-down.

 

Chase Frequencies

446.100MHz

 

NOTAM Filed

High Altitude Balloon from HUT VOR on radial 040 at 12 miles. 5 mile radius reaching Flight Level 600 from June14 at 1300Z to May 14 1900Z. (HUTxx/xxxx)