4/13/13 Launch!!! Top Camera Video

Launch starts at the 9 minute mark.

Balloon pops at the 3 minute mark.

Landing at 8 minute mark.

4/13/13 Launch!!! Main Camera Video

Main Camera Prep and Launch (we had some issues with the GPS tracker so the actual launch is at the 28 minute mark.

You can hear a jet pass by at the 32 minute mark.

Radar Reflector

I made the radar reflector out of heavy duty aluminum foil. 

 I cut the foil into 1 foot sheets and taped the edges with orange colored duct tape.

Finally I taped some parachute cord the top.

4/13/13 Launch!!! Pictures

GPS

I used the spot gps tracker to find the Ash Mark 1. I was hoping to get a solid track of the flight but shortly after takeoff it lost gps signal. It picked it back up again when it landed. Need to investigate further on the issue.

http://www.findmespot.com/

4/13/13 Launch!!! Details

Launch Time : 8:30am EST

Land Time: 11:09am EST

Climb Time: 1hour 54minutes

Decent Time: 45minutes

Total Time: 2hours 39minutes

Start location:
Bray Park - Siler City, NC
N35.71802 W79.44931

Landing location:
142 Sheriff Rd - Ahoskie, NC
N36.41368 W76.99887

Many thanks to:

Runnette Ethridge - Owner Rue's Decor and Gifts - For her support and tremendous friendship.

Andrew Lukonis - Owner Lukonis Violins - The best brother and co-balloon launcher.

Parachute

The parachute was made out of parachute cord, colored duct tape and an old motorcycle cover. 

 I grabbed the motorcycle cover by the top and cut about 1 foot below my hand. This produced a 2 foot diameter circle when unfolded.

I tied 4 knots on the edge of the chute material, then tied the parachute cord above those knots. Tape was added to prevent fraying.

ALD - Altitude Lift Device

Altitude Lift Device Requirements

• Low definition camera
• For ALD view
• High definition camera
• For Earth view
• Sounding balloon
• Lift vehicle
• Payload capsule
• For computer equipment and cameras
• Return vehicle

Covered Ash M1

Covered Ash M1

I spent this weekend dressing up the Ash Mark 1 vehicle.

I covered the whole outside with Duct tape. The bottom is bright orange and the sides are purple.

I used 550 Cord to make a cradle. I needed it to be a quick process to close the two halves after I turned the camera on. I decided to go with putting the top on first then slipping the supports underneath just before launch.

I finished up by taping the ends to prevent fraying and possible loosening the knots.

First Ash Vehicle

The Ash M1

Components:

Styrofoam box.

Wing Cam 720p. Approx 3 hour battery life.

Wing Cam II 1080p. Approx 4 hour battery life.

2x 32 GB Kingston Micro SD cards. One for each camera.

Spot GPS tracking device.

A dremel was used to make a hole on the top half of the capsule.

Double sided velcro attaches the Wing Cam 720p.

This is a view of the bottom half of the Ash M1. For the main view a Wing Cam II 1080p is used. The Spot GPS tracker will transmit position.

Styrofoam is messy.

Side view of the bottom half.

Top and bottom stacked. Notice the upward pointing and side facing cameras.

Concept art for recovery vehicle

Concept art for recovery vehicle:

 Balloon, Parachute (folded), and recovery vehicle

Recovery vehicle (Sealed container, 2 outboard motors, and movable tail)