Introduction
Outlined by this blog post will be
the launch portion of our High Altitude Balloon Launch (HABL) project from the
University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire Campus to supplement the post outlining rig
construction. After refining and finalizing the design of the HABL rig, it was
then time to play a waiting game with Mother Nature to allow for suitable
launch conditions. The final rig consisted of an upside down Styrofoam box
securely sealed with packaging tape that had a hole cut in the bottom that
would allow the Flip camera housed inside to have an unobstructed downward view
toward earth, a GPS beacon that would be used recover it, and hand warmers to
prevent the electronic equipment inside from freezing at altitude. Connecting
the rig to the base of the balloon was the parachute that would safely return
the camera back to earth once the balloon reached its service altitude and
popped due the change in air pressure.
Launch
On April 26, 2013, Dr. J. Hupy and the rest of the Geog 336
class launched a digital camera attached to an eight foot diameter, helium
filled weather balloon to a height of nearly 100,000 feet above the earth’s
surface. Conditions were not perfect, but due to the end of the semester
quickly approaching, we had to make do with what was presented to us. There was
a slight wind (10-15mph) from the west, with clear skies. Shortly after the
launch, the balloon began its eastward flight path, and was quickly out of
sight due to its high rate of accent. Following the relatively uneventful
launch, we then went inside to begin tracking its flight using the GPS tracker
placed within the rig. Nearly an hour passed before it transmitted its first
location and then a little while longer before finally landing just outside of
Marshfield, WI, over 78 miles away from where it was launched. Ultimately
coming to rest at the top of a fifty foot tree, Dr. Hupy first obtained
permission from the landowner to look for the HABL rig before having to climb
up the tree himself to finally retrieve the undamaged and still intact HABL
rig..
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| Figure 1: Still shot from the HABL rig as it flew over the Chippewa River and the UWEC Campus |
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| Figure 2: Still shot from the HABL rig over the Chippewa River in Wisconsin |
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| Figure 3: Still shot from the HABL rig of the lower reaches of the atmosphere showing our first glimps of space. Notice the curvature of the earth present |
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| Figure 4: Map created by Dr. J. Hupy showing the flight path of the HABL rig during the first few minutes of flight |
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| Figure 5: Map created by Dr. J. Hupy showing the more established flight path of the HABL rig |
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| Figure 6: Map created by Dr. J. Hupy showing the entire flight of the HABL rig |
Discussion
Although the footage from the balloon
is very unstable due to the turbulence it experienced on its accent, some very
excellent imagery was obtained by taking still shots of the video. Unfortunately
though, a few unforeseen issues with the HABL rig arose. First, the Flip camera
only allowed for about an hour of video to be recorded before shutting off,
thus only showing the assent, bursting of the balloon, and part of the descent.
Second, condensation formed on the inside of the lens part way up the accent
creating a slightly cloudy, hazy image. Even though these issues reduced the
overall quality of the recorded flight, the launch as a whole was seen as a
great success with many useful observations made that will be applied to the
next proposed HABL launch. In addition to launching the balloon on a day with
better atmospheric conditions, a more rugged GoPro camera will be used to allow
for a longer video to be recorded. Also, in addition to a different camera,
instruments such as an anemometer, thermometer, and barometer will be on board
to record atmospheric conditions along the flight.
Conclusion
I enjoyed the launching of our HABL
rig very much because of the collaboration and team work that went into making
it possible. It was also crazy to thing that we sent something we made into
space, and then were able to retrieve it all in the same day. Overall it proved
to be a great experience, and a great way to end the semester by bringing the
class together one last time to showcase our hard work.
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