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EE 189L: Space Vehicles LLC - A Project-based Course for New Students
EE 189L: Space Vehicles LLC - A Project-based Course for New Students
(scroll down for some great pictures and videos)
Students launch their weather balloon on 10 December 2018 [credit: Chris Pauli]Co-instructors:
- Ken Eack
- Aly El-Osery
- Kevin Wedeward
Learning coaches:
- Skyler Fennell
- Hayden Walker
- Joshua Ward
Students enrolled represented majors in:
- Biomedical Science
- Chemistry
- Earth Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Topics (roughly by week):
- Welcome and introduction to course
- Measurements, electronics (voltage sources, resistors, LEDs) and instrumentation
- Programming the Arduino Uno, LEDs, digitalWrite, PWM and measurements via oscilloscope
- Analog-to-digital converters, and measurements of temperature via Arduino Uno and thermistor
- Interfacing with GPS and data logging on SD card via Arduino Uno
- Digital communications via Arduino Uno using humidity and temperature sensor
- Overview of balloon launches, related research at NMT and lift calculations
- Students divide into three sub-teams (logistics, communications and payload) and develop everything needed to launch a weather balloon with instrumentation and communications by semester's end
Useful links:
- Cambridge University Spaceflight (CUSF) Landing Predictor - A tool to predict the flight path and landing location of latex sounding balloons.
- Canon Hack Development Kit (CHDK) Software Application - Enables additional capabilities for ported cameras.
- High Altitude Science Balloon Performance Calculator - A tool to predict the amount of helium needed for a balloon.
Pictures and videos from flight on 10 December 2018:
Path of weather balloon on satellite view [credit: aprs.fi and Google Maps]
Preparing the payload [credit: Kevin Wedeward]
Preparing the payload [credit: Chris Pauli]
Payload including Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), GPS, GoPro camera, Canon camera and data acquisition systems [credit: Zady Gutierrez]
Preparing smaller "practice" balloon for launch [credit: Hayden Walker]
Filling the balloon with helium [credit: Chris Pauli]
Filling the balloon with helium [credit: balloon-based GoPro]
Tying off the balloon, and connecting the parachute and payload [credit: Chris Pauli]
Balloon in flight [credit: Chris Pauli]
View down from balloon after launch [credit: balloon-based camera]
NMT_EE_Balloon_Ascension_2018.mp4Video from balloon during ascent [credit: balloon-based GoPro and Aly El-Osery]
View south of Rio Grande Valley [credit: balloon-based GoPro]
View west of Magdalena Mountains and M-mountain (Socorro Peak) [credit: balloon-based GoPro]
View north showing M-mountain on left, campus in lower-center and Rio Grande Valley [credit: balloon-based GoPro]Video from balloon showing view above 80,000 feet [credit: balloon-based GoPro and Aly El-Osery]
View at over 80,000 feet [credit: balloon-based GoPro]
View at over 80,000 feet with the Valley of Fires lava field and White Sands National Monument visible [credit: balloon-based GoPro]Slow motion video from balloon showing it pop at over 80,000 feet - Valley of Fires lava flow and White Sands National Monument are visible several times [credit: balloon-based GoPro and Aly El-Osery]
Balloon popping at over 80,000 feet [credit: balloon-based GoPro and Hayden Walker]
Valley of Fires lava field and US-380 [credit: balloon-based camera]Video from balloon during landing [credit: balloon-based GoPro and Aly El-Osery]
Search team on the hunt for the balloon's payload [credit: Hayden Walker]
Landing site by Valley of Fires lava field [credit: Hayden Walker]
Bringing home the balloon's payload and a souvenir [credit: Hayden Walker]Report abuse