NearSpace.net
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ENAE100 Fall 2012 Balloon Launch |
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Written by Lauren Powers
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Friday, 16 November 2012 20:29 |
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Five, four, three, two, one,” and with that, the first balloon launch of the 2012-2013 school year was off the ground. On Saturday, November 10th, five payloads flew with the Near Space Program; ENAE100 students built four payloads and UMD’s meteorology students were responsible for the fifth. Launch day began bright and early with a 4:45AM meeting time at the Space Systems Laboratory. All students were gathered, the vans were packed, and we were on the road my 5:00AM, heading toward our launch site. The team arrived in Clear Spring, Maryland at approximately 7:00AM. Launch preparations began immediately in order to meet the 8:00AM scheduled launched time. Soon enough, the payload string was in the air and we were on the road following closely behind.
Each payload included a camera that was programmed to take pictures in intervals throughout the flight. Furthermore, each payload was designed to collect different data. Sensors onboard consisted of gyros, accelerometers, photoresistors, temperature sensors, and pressure sensors. The balloon traveled east of the launch site and reached a maximum altitude of 82,000 feet before burst. The chase went smoothly and the payload was recovered near Sykesville, MD, about 15 miles west of Baltimore, as predicted.
The Near Space Team experienced quite a bit of luck during this launch as we found our payload hanging it a tree about 20 feet about a creek and 30 feet from an active railroad track. We were relieved to see that our payload string was undamaged. Two members of the Near Space Team hopped in the creek and we rolled out a tarp above the water. Bryan, one of the Near Space members, used his expert sling shot skills and was able to get a string around the payloads. The payload string was pulled down into the tarp and brought ashore. Saturday proved to be another successful recovery for the Near Space Program.
Unfortunately, we lost one payload during the flight; however, overall we gathered a lot of useful data that will be displayed in a poster presentation at the end of the semester. Last night the Near Space team held open lab hours to analyze data and findings.
The Near Space Program would like to extend a special thanks to all those that helped to make the launch possible! |
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Last Updated on Friday, 16 November 2012 20:33 |
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NearSpace Gets Research Rolling |
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Written by Lauren Powers
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Tuesday, 02 October 2012 19:19 |
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Ideas are flowing! Members of the NearSpace team have been researching new and innovative ideas for the 2012-2013 season. Our meeting yesterday yielded various design and project proposals. Currently, members are researching a potential HASP payload design that incorporates a modified spectrograph. Within the next week, research will be conducted to determine the specifications and project requirements.
The first ENAE100 workshop took place last Thursday. Sixteen freshmen Aerospace students we divided into groups of 4 students and each team began working on their payloads. Some groups worked on payload construction while other groups began programming cameras. Near Space Team members are working to incorporate new design ideas into the freshmen’s payloads. The target launch date for ENAE100 payloads is November 10, 2012 with a secondary date of November 11, 2012. Other payloads that are scheduled to fly on the November 10th balloon launch include a Geiger Counter and a Sun Sensor payload. Members of the team are researching and working to complete these payloads.
The members of the Near Space Program have many exciting projects already underway! The weeks to come will consist of extensive research and prototype construction. With all of this work being done, we are sure to have an exciting and rewarding balloon launch in November.
Lauren Powers
NearSpace Team Member
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 October 2012 17:29 |
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Written by Connie Ciarleglio
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Tuesday, 16 August 2011 03:57 |
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After a break from spring semester launches, the nearspace team is getting back into the swing of things with 2 recent flights and preparations for HASP in a week or two.
NS-32, launched in mid-May, was the windiest launch in my memory, but the team did an excellent job and landed on a golf course some 70 miles east. The flight supported a new payload which captured a downward video stream, upward video stream, including burst, and pictures of our logos with a side view cameras. The launch and burst footage can be viewed on our youtube channel.
Launch Video
Burst Video
NS-33, launched on August 12, was a beautiful launch day with no wind or cloud cover. We could not have had a better day. The tracking vehicle saw the payload come down in a field near Taneytown and recovered all payloads successfully. The launch was done in support of the UMBC satellite test payload and tracking operations training.
Pictures from both launches can be seen in the Image Gallery.
Myself and the team are looking forward to the HASP flight next week. We have an exciting launch ahead.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 August 2011 04:03 |
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Nearspace Program Fall Semester 2012 Kick Off |
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Written by Connie Ciarleglio
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Thursday, 13 September 2012 19:38 |
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With HASP 2012 finished and a new semester in the works, the Nearspace team is looking at an exciting Fall semester after our first kick off meeting.
With one of the largest groups we've had in a while, 5 women and 4 men, the project and team has a lot of additional capability and we are looking forward to an increased number of student projects. A lot of our members are returning ENAE100 project students who will be helping out with our current semester freshman. Our freshman workshops are scheduled for Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Pictures of the workshops and launch will be posted with progress updates for our new students.
Upcoming project opportunities for the group include the Fall flight, scheduled for the weekend of November 10/11, and the HASP flight, proposal for HASP 2013 due this December. We hope to have a team continue our current use of the HASP opportunity with a new project this year after our previous 4 years of participation.
Its been a great summer for the group and I am looking forward to a semester of student projects and launches.
Connie Ciarleglio
Nearspace project manager |
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