Low Cost Ballooning

Low-Cost Balloon Launches

Please see our most recent telemetry low-cost research launch

One of our long term goals is to help interested teachers prepare to conduct their own balloon launches. We have begun testing some low-cost telemetry options in the hopes of finding the ultimate low cost, reliable and readily usable launch platform.

The following is a list of equipment we are considering for launching low cost balloons, along with notes weighing the pros and cons of each item. This is a page used by the near-space balloon team for planning purposes, and is posted here for teachers and students to get an idea of what the equipment selection process involves. We are considering the initial purchase cost of the equipment, any annual fees associated with it, and the perceived risk/reliability of the product.

Balloon Options:

• One of our stock Kaymont Balloons
• A smaller Kaymont Balloon

Parachute Options:

• Store-bought ($)
• Home-made:
  • cheaper
  • requires a sewing machine
  • can be made to our specifications
  • more time consuming

Wooden Hoop for Parachute:

• standard, bought from a crafts store

Radar Reflector:

• Made out of cardboard and reflective foil and made to reflect radar waves, it lets airplanes know that our balloon is there.
• Super cheap and easy to make

Payload Box:

• Simple styrafoam box

Telemetry: Here is where things get interesting. The following is a list of a known telemetry devices by others, as well as links to who uses them.

• Stratostar Command Module (http://sites.google.com/site/ucsdnearspaceballoon/equipment-used)
• Stratostar Backup Beacon (http://sites.google.com/site/ucsdnearspaceballoon/equipment-used)
• 300mW Alico DJ-s11 w/ Byonics TinyTrak 3 (http://www.bear.437am.com/bear1design.htm)
  • $90 for Alico and $107 for TinyTrak with GPS and case, Total ~ $200
• GM862-CPS cellular module with SiRF III GPS and Python interpreter (http://www.natrium42.com/halo/flight2/)
  • Looks a bit complicated
  • $160 plus a Python interpreter board of unknown cost
• Boost Mobile Cell phone with tracking software (http://sites.google.com/site/viewearthfromspace/project-pegasus-pictures-of-earth-from-space)
  • basically what my friends and I did, but they bought proprietary software
  • ~$45 used
• SPOT Personal tracker (http://sites.google.com/site/viewearthfromspace/project-pegasus-pictures-of-earth-from-space)
  • $150 to purchase unit. $150 yearly fee per unit to use.
• Garmin Multi Tracker (http://www.gundogsupply.com/hunting-dog-doors-kwp.html)
  • A multi-balloon tracking system used with hunting dog
  • Handheld unit communicates with dog collars using radio signals, not satellite communication. Line of sight maximum range is 7 miles.
  • from $600 for one dog to $2400 for ten dogs/balloons
• Byonics Micro-Trak All In One (http://hibal.org/missions/apteryx/index.html#science)
  • this is what my friends and I used for the first launch
  • Super reliable, watertight, with a very strong signal and long battery life
  • Because it is a ham beacon it can be tracked online via Iphone
  • Not the cheapest solution
  • $260
• Motorla i290 cell phone with custom code integrated with sensor.network (http://gregklein.wordpress.com/)
  • this is what my friends and I built as the cheapest potential tracking solution
  • $50 motorola phone new (cheaper on ebay) + $10 for credits = $60 total
  • Has not been thoroughly tested

Camera:

• One of our Canon Cameras, programmed with CHDK