Metropolitan State UniversityIsaac Hamilton

Jordan Gallegos

Christopher Olson

McMillan Miskin

Daniel Koch

Thomas Mindenhall

Cody Overcash

March 27, 2009

Outline Mission Overview Payload Compliance Payload Design Balloon Interface Heating System Camera System Accelerometer System Structural and Thermal Properties Testing and Results Price List

Mission Overview

Our objective is to send a weather balloon with a payload to an altitude of one hundred thousand feet. It will capture still photographs and record acceleration forces during the three-hour flight as well as subsequent impact with the ground.

The team expects to meet all objectives while maintaining a budget of eight hundred dollars.

Amateur high altitude weather balloons are becoming more popular. Many people have used weather balloons to obtain dust samples and also to take aerial photography from the edge of space.

Payload User Guide Compliance

Mass- 1.5 kg (Total Payload) Payload mass is 1.368kg

Determination of G-loads upon landing Accelerometer is capable of measuring 3 G’s at a rate of 1 sample

every 0.6 seconds totaling 18000 measurements during the flight

On-board photography during entire flight Cameras will take 1000 pictures over the duration of the flight

Balloon InterfacePayload attaches through strong center pipe that holds the whole

system together

Payload Design

Outward faced camera

Accelerometer

Heating resistors

Downward faced camera

Clamping tube

Top

Middle section

Base

Base

Balloon Interface Lock nut

PVC tubePayload top

Tether

Heating System

Heating Resistors

9 volt Batteries

Wiring Diagram for Resistor Heater

33 ohm resistors

9 volt

9 volt

9 volt

We will be using two Canon A570IS cameras to take pictures throughout the flight. The A570IS camera takes pictures at 7.1MP.

The cameras are currently both running a script via CHDK to take pictures at intervals of 10 seconds for the entire flight (4GB card, max 4mb/picture, estimated 3 hr flight).

The interval script has been tested and it is running fine.

Shutter speed will be adjusted to a fast setting via CHDK assuming there are no conflicts between doing this and running the interval script.

Further camera testing will be done between 3/26/2009 and 3/29/2009 to make sure a faster shutter speed and the interval script work. If they are not compatible a default shutter speed will be used.

Camera System

During our flight we will be recording the flight with a Hobo Pendant G 3-axis accelerometer.

The Hobo Pendant G can log 21,333 times when logging all three axis. To spread out logging throughout the 3 hour estimated flight we could log every 0.506 seconds. To error on the side of caution the Hobo will be set to log every 0.6 seconds.

The maximum G force rating on the Hobo is +/-3G. Unfortunately this may not be enough to record accurately on landing and if we were to have another launch we would look into other accelerometer options.

The temperature in the sat must be kept above -20C in order to stay within the Hobo’s operating range.

Accelerometer System

MK111 Timing Circuit

Structure and Thermal Properties

Polystyrene core0.023 W/m *K

5.7 oz 3k carbon fiber square weave

Carbon and coremate reinforcement

R

Tcondq

Lk

ri

ro

R**2

)ln(

wattscondq 13

Tin min= 0°C Tout = -60°C

Testing

Thermal testing in -50° F environment Thermal couples placed on the inside

and outside of payload.

Test vessel Test environment

Environmental test

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Time (10 min interval)

Tem

pera

ture

(D

eg

rees F

)

Inside Temp degrees F

Outside Temp degrees F

Test Results

Test failure point

Price/Mass ListPart Item Price

Carbon Fiber $ 90.00

Epoxy Resin $ 34.95

Hardener $ 17.05

Peel ply $ 7.50

Breather $ 5.20

Vacuum bag $ 6.45

CANON a570 Digital Camera$74.95x2= $ 149.96

HOBO Pendant G logger Kit $ 157.41

MK111 Timing Circuit $ 14.95

Polystyrene insulation $ 12.00

Gorilla Glue $ 12.54

9 volt batteries $ 13.54

9 volt holders $ 0.80

33 ohm resistors $0.39x3 $ 1.17

Perf board $ 4.49

Dry Ice 23 lbs $ 27.35

Thermal couples $ 32.01

Total $ 587.37

   

Funds still available $ 212.63

Component mass

Shell 700grams

Cameras 454 grams

Heater 215 grams

Accelerometer TBD

   

total 1369 grams

Price list

Mass list

Team Member Responsibilities

Daniel Koch-Exterior Structure, Composite Material handling and thermal properties

Jordan Gallegos-Structural design oversight handling

McMillan Misken-Payload construction Christopher Olson-Internal Heating assembly Cody Overcash-visual recording assembly and

accelerometer assembly Isaac Hamilton-Still Photo recording and wiring

assembly. Interior shell construction and assembly Thomas Mindenhall-Interior structural assembly

Upcoming Schedule

March 27th CDR March 28th - April 9th construct new

heater and retest Launch April 11th