Weather Balloon Project
(10/20/2015)
The University of Akron Amateur Radio Club along with faculty and students, will be designing a communications system and data gathering weather balloon project.
Objective
Launch a weather balloon carrying a payload that includes a UHF/VHF repeater
Imagery via Rasberry Pi microprocessor
Temperature, Pressure, Altitude ,Light Sensor via microprocessor
GPS tracking system
Designing specific UHF and VHF antennas for high altitude.
Experimentation and Calculations
We need to mathematically calculate the lift velocity and acceleration of the weather balloon with the given payload weight. Calculations will involve balloon diameter, helium/hydrogen gas factor, payload weight, ect.
Once the balloon pops at a certain altitude, we will also need to calculate terminal velocity of the payload.
Design a parachute deployment system
Light weight reflector
Notes:
Possible gps system : https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11858
Online Calculations Website - http://www.highaltitudescience.com/pages/balloon-performance-calculator