Balloon Project
June 20, 2009
June 20, 2009 was our third Balloon flight.
Each year we learn a bit more and the setup and launch gets easier.
Here are some shots of the setup and launch and also some in-flight photos.
Payload modules left to right:
Camera controller.
Mini Weather Station & Data Recorder.
Accelerometer & telemetry module.
The objects covered with yellow tape are the lithium batteries
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Here, Keith and Donnie prepare the Balloon for filling. They wear
cotton gloves to protect the latex balloon.
At Donnie's left knee is the digital fish scale to used to measure
lift. On this flight, we filled 'til we had 3 pounds positive lift.
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Brandi testing the lift. At this point, it had about 8 pounds of
lift.
Preparing the modules for flight.
Preparing the parachute.
The balloon is above, out of the picture.
Almost ready to go.
Donnie holding for the count down.
The blue box contains the GPS and radio for tracking and the red box holds
the mini weather station, the camera and the accelerometer.
Moments after balloon burst. Chute is open.
Notice the sky is no longer blue.
90% of the atmosphere is below us.
We launched from Larry and Dale's home in Thomasville, Ga.
The blue box is the GPS tracking module
US 90 & I-10 Interchange east of Tallahassee, Fl
The top of the photo is South.
US 19 and US 84 interchange in the lower right.
Tallahassee Regional Airport from about 90,000 feet.
North is to the right.
The Earth from 90,000+ feet
We landed in the treetops on the West side of Lake Talquin.
The camera continued to take photos until the battery was exhausted.
We were unable to recover the craft on July 20, but we came back the
following Saturday and recovered everything.
Copyright © 2009, D.W. Barnes
Moments after launch
Balloon at liftoff
Balloon moments before bursting
