Noisebridge - User contributions [en]

Spacebridge/pre-flight checklist

2010-03-27T20:17:40Z

Albert:

Pre-flight checklist for balloon launches.

Inventory
# Two cameras (third optional)
# Two G1s, freshly charged
# Opentracker
# Package Tracker
# GPS Beacon
# Two F SMA to M BNC converters
# Monopole roof-mount antenna
# Dipole handheld antenna
# Two radios
# Two charged radio batteries
# 4 AA lithium ion batteries
# 2 9v lithium ion batteries
# Zipties, large

Cameras
#Cameras on
# Cameras are set to high ISO and/or fast shutter speed
# Cameras saving compressed images
# Cameras Flash off
# Batts charged for camera, G1, radio

[[File:Spacebridge_Bravo.JPG]]
Electronics
# Fasten connectors J4, J6
# Turn on Radio
# Connect new 9v Batt to J5
# Fasten connectors J2, J3
# Confirm green light on Opentracker to indicate APRS signal
# If using Package Tracker, connect J1, J7, J8
# If not using package tracker, connect GPS (J7) directly to Opentracker (J1)
# Confirm flashing green light on Opentracker to indicate GPS reception
# Confirm red LED flashes on radio to indicate VOX mode signal transmission
# Confirm radio coordinate reception using handheld radio
# Confirm radio coordinate parsing using External G1
# Confirm SMS coordinate reception using G1
# Mount electronics in payload

Payload/Bus
# Ziptie payload closed
# Test mechanical stability of parachute to payload connection
# Test mechanical stability of redundant parachute payload connection
# Check LED flasher mechanical stability
# Check that "if found tag" is firmly attached to payload
# Inflate balloon
# Make history

[[Category:Spacebridge]]

This Monster flavour is nuts and Albert is putting it in his mouth.

File:Spacebridge Bravo.JPG

2010-03-27T19:56:59Z

Albert: uploaded a new version of "File:Spacebridge Bravo.JPG"

Block-level wiring diagram

File:Spacebridge Bravo.JPG

2010-03-27T19:45:52Z

Albert: Block-level wiring diagram

Block-level wiring diagram

Spacebridge/launches/Alpha

2010-03-14T21:42:05Z

Albert:

Alpha was the first Spacebridge balloon flight.

Observations on the [[broken alpha balloon]]

The Alpha payload consisted of:

* [https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=37 Garmin GPS 18x LVC]
* [https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=65 OpenTracker+]
* [https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=74 Puxing PX-777 PLUS VHF Radio]
* G1 Android smartphone
* Canon SD400 camera
* Canon A700 camera with fisheye lens adapte

All the above payload was housed in a styrofoam cooler. The OpenTracker+ was powered by a 9V Energizer lithium battery and supplied regulated power to the GPS. All other devices had internal Li-ion batteries.

Post-flight Analysis

The following images show vertical acceleration (onboard sensor) and vertical position (via GPS) of the space vehicle (SV) as a function of sample. The Android sample rate varies but was generally around 80 samples per second. Sample numbers correspond from sensor to sensor.

GPS tracking lagged behind actual ascent. There are two possible explanations for this. Either
* We are moving faster than ITAR permits, so GPS is reporting the maximum upward speed allowable, resetting to the actual position once the error is too large, OR
* Sample rate is regularly variable.
There was a large dropout period between samples 2940000 and 3680000, presumably due to the extreme altitude. Descent began somewhere around sample 3250000 as estimated by curve-fitting the ascent and descent. Estimated maximum altitude is ~20000 m. Landing occurred approximately at sample 5520000.

[[File:Spacebridge Alpha - z pos.png]]

Acceleration starts out at 10 m/s due to gravity. Jerk begins at sample 400000 due to payload handling, lining up nicely with the launch at 470000 shown by GPS. The SV continued to ascend until sample 3244710, which appears to indicate a pop. After this sample, the acceleration trends less than 10m/s and slowing, indicating a controlled fall. At sample 5460000, the sensor becomes inverted, as the impact of landing flips the payload (or at least the phone). This corresponds closely with the GPS recorded SV landing at sample 5520000. There was a very large spike at 6280000, from unknown causes. Finally, the payload was righted at 9300000.

[[File:Spacebridge_Alpha_-_z_accel.png]]

[[Category:Spacebridge]]

Spacebridge/launches/Alpha

2010-03-14T21:41:42Z

Albert:

Alpha was the first Spacebridge balloon flight.

Observations on the [[broken alpha balloon]]

The Alpha payload consisted of:

* [https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=37 Garmin GPS 18x LVC]
* [https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=65 OpenTracker+]
* [https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=74 Puxing PX-777 PLUS VHF Radio]
* G1 Android smartphone
* Canon SD400 camera
* Canon A700 camera with fisheye lens adapte

All the above payload was housed in a styrofoam cooler. The OpenTracker+ was powered by a 9V Energizer lithium battery and supplied regulated power to the GPS. All other devices had internal Li-ion batteries.

Post-flight Analysis
The following images show vertical acceleration (onboard sensor) and vertical position (via GPS) of the space vehicle (SV) as a function of sample. The Android sample rate varies but was generally around 80 samples per second. Sample numbers correspond from sensor to sensor.

GPS tracking lagged behind actual ascent. There are two possible explanations for this. Either
* We are moving faster than ITAR permits, so GPS is reporting the maximum upward speed allowable, resetting to the actual position once the error is too large, OR
* Sample rate is regularly variable.
There was a large dropout period between samples 2940000 and 3680000, presumably due to the extreme altitude. Descent began somewhere around sample 3250000 as estimated by curve-fitting the ascent and descent. Estimated maximum altitude is ~20000 m. Landing occurred approximately at sample 5520000.

[[File:Spacebridge Alpha - z pos.png]]

Acceleration starts out at 10 m/s due to gravity. Jerk begins at sample 400000 due to payload handling, lining up nicely with the launch at 470000 shown by GPS. The SV continued to ascend until sample 3244710, which appears to indicate a pop. After this sample, the acceleration trends less than 10m/s and slowing, indicating a controlled fall. At sample 5460000, the sensor becomes inverted, as the impact of landing flips the payload (or at least the phone). This corresponds closely with the GPS recorded SV landing at sample 5520000. There was a very large spike at 6280000, from unknown causes. Finally, the payload was righted at 9300000.

[[File:Spacebridge_Alpha_-_z_accel.png]]

[[Category:Spacebridge]]

File:Spacebridge Alpha - z accel.png

2010-03-14T21:38:53Z

Albert: uploaded a new version of "File:Spacebridge Alpha - z accel.png": Annotated acceleration data from Spacebridge Alpha Flight

Annotated acceleration data for Spacebridge Alpha Flight

File:Spacebridge Alpha - z pos.png

2010-03-14T21:38:28Z

Albert: uploaded a new version of "File:Spacebridge Alpha - z pos.png": Annotated GPS data from Spacebridge Alpha Flight

Annotated GPS vertical position data from Spacebridge Alpha Flight

File:Spacebridge Alpha - z pos.png

2010-03-14T21:37:26Z

Albert: uploaded a new version of "File:Spacebridge Alpha - z pos.png": Annotated acceleration data from Spacebridge Alpha Flight

Annotated GPS vertical position data from Spacebridge Alpha Flight

File:Spacebridge Alpha - z pos.png

2010-03-14T20:57:19Z

Albert: Annotated GPS vertical position data from Spacebridge Alpha Flight

Annotated GPS vertical position data from Spacebridge Alpha Flight

File:Spacebridge Alpha - z accel.png

2010-03-14T20:55:51Z

Albert: Annotated acceleration data for Spacebridge Alpha Flight

Annotated acceleration data for Spacebridge Alpha Flight