INSGC: Near-Space Inspiring Students
02/29/08
StratoStar Systems LLCJason Krueger, President
236 West Reade Ave
Upland, IN 46989
765.382.0451
Overview
• Taylor University H-A Balloon Program
• StratoStar Systems
• 2007 HALO Project
• 2008 HALO II Project
• NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops
Taylor University H-A Balloon Program
• Testing Satellite Systems – Taylor University needed to test it’s CubeSat
sub-systems – Equipment for lab testing was not available – Dr. Hank Voss & Jeff Dailey decided to launch
the CubSat into Near-Space– Dr. Voss & Jeff developed 900 Mhz telemetry
system
Taylor University H-A Balloon Program
First Launch February 2003
Taylor University H-A Balloon Program
First Launch February 2003 – Partially funded by INSGC first Crosscutting
Research Grant
INSGC has funded the balloon program each year from 2003-2007 (Hopefully 2008?)
Taylor University H-A Balloon Program
Students are the focus– Build Scientific & Engineering payloads – Track & Recovery payloads – Coordinating logistics – Working in teams – Managing budgets and schedules – Creative problem solving
Taylor University H-A Balloon Program
Taylor University H-A Balloon Program
Balloon Launches for Non-Science Majors– Originally Physics and Engineering– Started launching with Astronomy students
and Elementary Education students – Science is taken outside the classroom, lab
and atmosphere – Makes Science “Real”
Taylor University H-A Balloon Program
Student Quote:– I definitely think the balloon lab should be
included in Astronomy...because it's a tangible way to see that this is really still a science, not an outdated sub-genre of physics in which you memorize the planets in our solar system.
Taylor University H-A Balloon Program
Taylor Balloon Program History– 100% recovery rate – 72 launches in 5 years – Major contributor to growth of Physics &
Engineering Department
Taylor University H-A Balloon Program
INSGC Funding Multiplied– INSGC $ to Taylor is in $10,000s – Outside follow-on funding from INSGC
funded projects is $400,000+ – All student focused grants to build the
STEM Workforce – $250K for NSF High-Altitude Balloon
Workshops
StratoStar Systems
Who are we? – Company has been in business for 2 years– Slogan “Gateway to Near-Space”– StratoStar has over 70 years combined R&D
experience – 100% payload retrieval to date – Spun out of INSGC funded balloon program
StratoStar Systems
StratoSat Complete Flight Package
• StratoStar’s main product Wireless Payload Pods
Battery Charger
Command Pod
Mobile Tracking Unit
Parachute
High-Altitude Balloon
StratoStar Systems
What do we do? – Help people conducting launches and operate
in near-space --“Gate-way to Near-Space”– Sell equipment to conduct launches – Provide training – Provide launch services
StratoStar Systems
This will make it too easy for the Students– We supply the command unit and experiment
pods – you do the rest– Taken away the things which discourage
students and Institutions (Lost equipment & Data)
– Students focus on Science and other all areas of engineering (Not just EE)
– Success keeps students coming back for more!
StratoStar Systems
Don’t let your boat sink!
StratoStar Systems
The future student project!
StratoStar Systems
Who are your customers?– Higher Education – Taylor University,
Cedarville University, DePauw University, University of Akron, University of Minnesota and more.
– Industry & Government Agencies – SAIC, NOAA, Air Force, Navy and more
StratoStar Systems
StratoStar’s New Altitude Control System – Up to 12 hours flight time– Uses normal Latex balloons – Flights without StratoStar’s altitude control
system are about 2-3 hours– Opens the door to new scientific opportunities
StratoStar Systems
Different ways to Near-Space 1. StratoStar launches your payloads
2. StratoStar conducts a high-altitude balloon launch with you at your institution
3. Purchase equipment and receive training to conduct your own launches
2007 HALO ProjectHigh-Altitude Launch Opportunity (HALO) Project
Funded by: INSGC, StratoStar & Taylor University
2007 HALO ProjectPurpose
• Give students in the Midwest a chance to launch payloads on a high-altitude balloon
2007 HALO ProjectPurpose
• Test StratoStar’s cutting edge constellation mesh network (HALO Network)
2007 HALO Project
The HALO Students
• Students at each institution recruited a team
• Teams built their own payloads
2007 HALO Project
The HALO Students
• Participated in conference calls with all other teams in the Midwest
• Handled all operations related to launching a high-altitude balloon
2007 HALO Project
HALO POD– Each institution received one HALO Pod– Each Pod Contained: – APRS Transmitter, GPS, Temp. Sensor, Pres.
Sensor, Humidity Sensor, Geiger Counter and StratoStar’s Mesh Networking Radio.
Each Institution added their own payloads for the launch
2007 HALO Project
Taylor University: Mission Control
2007 HALO Project
• DePauw University: Greencastle, IN– All images taken from the same camera
2007 HALO Project
• Cedarville University: Centerville, OH
2007 HALO Project
• University of Minnesota: Minneapolis, MN
2007 HALO Project
2007 HALO Project
2007 HALO ProjectHALO Coverage Area
2007 HALO Project
• Successful Project Summary – 5 of 8 balloons connected to the create the
mesh network constellation. – Temperature, Pressure, Humidity, and Geiger
Counter data was sent through constellation– All payloads were recovered – Furthest link was over 270 miles
2007 HALO Project
• Project Summary (People involved)– 70 Students actively involved – 110 People attend the launches – 1000’s Read the News articles on the HALO
project – Each Institution received media coverage of
some form – More to come – Academic Publications
2008 HALO II Project
2008 HALO II Project
HALO II Details – Sept. – Oct. 2008 – 20 Institutions – No balloon experience needed – Looking for people to participate – Looking for Science experiments to fly
Contact Jason Krueger if you are interested – [email protected]
NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops
• Integrate High-Altitude balloon launches into the classroom and curricula of undergraduate science and engineering courses around the country.
Purpose
NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops
• Training and equipping undergraduate professors / instructors of all areas (not just Electrical Engineering and Aerospace) to implement balloon launches in a course which they are teaching.
Focus
NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops
• Science and engineering experiments for undergraduate courses
• Not on building an entire high-altitude balloon system.
Focus
NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops
• Training on all aspects of high-altitude ballooning
• Design and build science experiment
Activities
NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops
Conduct a night launch of a high-altitude balloon
Activities
NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops
• Track and recover the your payloads
• Analyze data from your experiment
• Network with other professors who have successfully implemented ballooning into the classroom
Activities
NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops
• One Free balloon launch at your University with equipment funded by NSF
• Follow-up support from Taylor University on implementation of ballooning in your curriculum.
Post Workshop Benefits
NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops
• No cost to attend (limit 5 per institution) – (travel & lodging not included)
• Each institution receives $200 stipend • Short two page application • 2 day workshop• Offered Twice May 21-22 or Aug. 4-5 2008
Registration Details
NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops
Conference Website – www.taylor.edu/cri/balloon.
Open for Registration
Registration Details
StratoStar Systems 236 West Reade Ave
Upland, IN
POC: Jason Krueger
765-382-0451
www.StratoStar.net