High Altitude Ballooning
Contents
What is High Altitude Ballooning
HABs are unmanned balloons that are released into the stratosphere and obtain a height anywhere between 60,000 to 120,000 ft. The most common type of high-altitude balloons are weather balloons. Modern balloons generally contain electronic equipment such as radio transmitters, cameras, or satellite navigation systems, such as GPS receivers. Source: WIKIPEDIA.
HAB Eclipse Project
This project is a national effort to capture brilliant images and videos of the 2017 Eclipse. SSH:C is excited to form its own team in conjunction with members of the Museum of Science and Industry Fab Lab to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime project!
- NASA's full description of the project: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-ballooning-project
- Montana Space Grant Consortia's full description of the project: http://eclipse.montana.edu/
Phase 1: Organizing
The first phase encompasses gathering resources and organizing participants.
Project Roles
Teams will operate with some level of fluidity, but within clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Roles break into two groups: prep and onsite. Members may at different stages wear multiple hats.
PREP ROLES
Live Video Feed Tech
- Owns everything related to the payload’s live video feed camera and transmitter.
- Works closely with the ground station operator.
- This person must be there on launch day and for the test launch.
- This is the hardest job.
- Specific Tasks:
- Construct, configure, and troubleshoot all elements related to the live feed camera
- Work with CAD designer to comport system into payload; keep weight down
- Source and order any additional parts related to this system outside of the MSU kit
Ground Station Tech
- Owns everything related to the ground station and receiver for the live stream.
- Works closely with the live video feed tech.
- This person must be there on launch day and for the test launch.
- This person should already own an up to date laptop: we’ll be using it to connect and upload the stream to NASA’s page.
- Specific Tasks:
- Construct, configure, and troubleshoot all elements related to the ground station
- Source and order any additional parts related to this system outside of the MSU kit
CAD Designer/Payload Construction
- Owns the design of the payload(s).
- Works closely with everyone responsible for payload related elements to ensure everything fits and makes weight.
- Specific Tasks:
- Design payload (preferably in a program like CAD) to specifications
- Designs solution for connecting balloon to parachute to payloads
- Sources and constructs/modifies materials related to payload construction
- Tracks every piece/element making it into the payload, and their weight
Digital Designer/Art Director
- Owns the look and feel of this project’s public facing elements, chiefly the website and any art/media assets needed for the Kickstarter campaign.
- Specific Tasks:
- Design and own the project’s webpage
- Produce media assets for website and fundraising purposes
- Design and produce mission patch
- Design and produce the payload’s cosmetic elements
Experiment/Science/Hacker Lead
- Currently a theoretical position - interested? pitch an idea that is feasible given the cost, time, space, and weight considerations
- Owns everything related to the science experiment, engineering hack, clever flourish, etc you come up with.
- This person must be there on launch day and for the test launch to troubleshoot
- Specific Tasks:
- Construct, configure, and troubleshoot all elements related to whatever experiment or hack you come up with
ONSITE ROLES
Live Video Feed Tech
- Owns everything related to the payload’s live video feed camera and radio.
- Works closely with the ground station operator.
- This person must be there on launch day and for the test launch.
- This is the hardest job.
- Specific Tasks:
- Everything for this system should be designed in advance, so onsite this person will be doing final setup and troubleshooting
Ground Station Tech
- Owns everything related to the ground station and receiver for the live stream.
- Works closely with the live video feed tech.
- This person must be there on launch day and for the test launch.
- This person should already own an up to date laptop, we’ll be using it to connect and upload the stream to NASA’s page.
- Specific Tasks:
- Everything for this system should be designed in advance, so onsite this person will be doing final setup and troubleshooting
Pair of Hands (3)
- General helper on launch day.
- Ideally these individuals also have Prep/Construction roles in case there are any last minute issues, and to bring their existing knowledge of the project to Carbondale.
- We need three of these.
- Specific Tasks:
- Hold stuff, run errands, grab parts, help slap things together, be generally useful
Communication
To collaborate on this project, team members use Slack, in-person meetings, and Google Drive.
- These will function as the communication/documentation centers of this project (as opposed to emails, basecamp, etc...).
- Join the project Slack Channel by e-mailing producer@matthewwendeln.com
Money Matters
Bill of Material: File:Common Payload Kitting Key.pdf
Invoice: File:HAB Montana Invoice.PDF
Budget: File:HAB - Budget Projection.pdf
Phase 2: Fundraising and Construction
Kickstarter/Fundraising
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Questions
When is the actual date?
- 8/21/2017
How can I get involved?
- We're still looking for volunteers and team members! Please email Matthew Wendeln at producer@matthewwendeln.com
Contact
Matthew Wendeln is the project lead. Direct all questions to producer@matthewwendeln.com