Launch weekend:
Day one
After our class, we went to Phoenix forge to get acquainted with the maker space. But there was a buzz of excitement in the air. Our two teams, Sky High (4 members) and Helios (5 members) were about to try something for the first time. Launch payloads way up in the atmosphere. But first, we had to get past the evening of presentations and get some rest.
Sky High of Glendale community collage
Presentation
Rik Bloemers, the lead of Sky High have provided this presentation.
Then we had to rest for the journey ahead...
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The data
Total flight Height: 102,400 Feet
Launch location
Preparing payloads for the first balloon
First Launch Video
Unfortunately that balloon's parashot did not deploy, and all the payloads where destroyed.
Our balloon launch
After the launch we went to a preplanned location to wait for it to pop. I was able to take picture of the balloon because I could see the balloon way up in the sky.
Balloon in flight
Its the white speck in the center of the screen!
After it popped, we fallowed the ANSR team to the pickup location since the landing location was inaccessible for students.
Landing Location
Payload landing videos
Long Short
Payload data and recordings
The payload data graphs are below
The payload data graphs below
The graph on the top left is pressure v/s time; it shows the atmospheric pressure around the payload at the given time.
The graph on the top right is the temperature v/s time; it shows two sensors. The outside sensor is orange and got so cold that the sensor got to its threshold temperature. The inner sensor got as hot as 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
The graph of the bottom right; is the accelerometer showing both x and y forces on the payload. Rik came up with a formula to show how much the payload spins.
The last graph (bottom right) shows battery power v/s time. Also, take note on the top right, there is a timer showing the total mission time.
Payload videos and slide shows
4k Video camera on front of payload. It recorded for about 9 minutes then went into thermal overload.
Top Camera (pointed up at balloon)
This full mission video has been edited by Rik Bloemers to accentuate the important features of the flight. He sped up the video during slow parts of the mission and slowed it way down during the balloon pop and scenes of the earth from around 100,000 feet!
Slow motion videos
These slow-motion videos are of the balloon pop and the earth, were made by Rik Bloemers with his video editor.
Balloon Pop
Views of the earth were possible when the payload whipped upside down right after the balloon popped. We got very lucky!
The Earth's smiley face!