Team Elijah Meeting Minutes!

04.18.04 Elijah Team and Marquette Team Meeting

Proceedings

• Meet with new Elijah launch team for first time and the Marquette science payload team
• Explain launch process
• Marquette team explains their senior design idea and its components
• Examine tentative launch dates for late May/early June
• Next Elijah team meeting to be held Sunday, May 24 at MSOE (S-107)

04.24.04 Elijah Team Meeting

Proceedings

• Introduced ourselves and what we bring to the team

• Explain equipment and go over basics of set up
• Describe prior launch experiences to new members
• Elijah X equipment examined for first time since launch day
• Equipment organized and stored in Dr. Farrow’s office
• AIM names collected
  • DocFar601 (Dr. Farrow)
  • Msoejjacob (Erik)
  • Cobra7324 (Cara)
  • Gigglebyte5 (Lisa)
  • AnnHartwig (Ann)
  • HaegD (Dan)
  • Vadikv (Vadik)
• Experimental tracking run organized for Sunday, May 02 in Oshkosh

Items discussed

• Vehicles available
• Dates for launch and next meeting
  • Experimental run Sunday, May 02 from Oshkosh
  • Looking to launch May 26/27/28 from Eau Clair (Marquette science payload)
  • Dr. Farrow has possible camping arrangements

• Balloon Track software to be examined

• Balloon track website   http://www.eoss.org/wbaltrak/download.htm
• Elijah team name acronyms

• Live feed video possible still?
• Inventory list
  • Items needing to be replaced
  • Needed equipment
  • New battery system
  • Alternate radio receivers/alternate antennas
• Dry run of all equipment
  • Battery test for camera, LCD lights, radios, GPS
• Photo ID’s  (NASA badges!)
• Web CT
  • Communication to WSGC office
• Meet with Rich Philips
  • Antenna advice for handheld radios
  • Receiver only radios (operating license needed?)
  • Radio direction finder
• Walkie talkies
• Binoculars
• Helium through MSOE welding supply company (Roger Hanjay)

Dry Run

• Meet at noon on Sunday, May 02 by the MSOE rock
• Meet in Oshkosh at 1:30 pm

• Tracking software downloaded on trip down
  • Mappoint
  • Balloon Trak
• Cables needed
• Batteries charged
• GPS and radios up and running

05.02.04 Elijah Team Meeting

Proceedings

• Meet at MSOE and plan on leaving for Oshkosh
  • Set up radio/gps/laptop connections
  • Cannot connect laptop with radio to receive data
• Testing in Oshkosh cancelled
• Install MapPoint software on laptops

05.18.04 Elijah Team Meeting

Items discussed

• Still planning on launch Wed. 5/26
  • No rush on launch
• Next meeting Mon. 5/24 at 6:00 pm
  • Go for Wed. launch if all equipment working
• Need to order helium from Roger in the machine shop
  • What are the size tanks?  (Bartz is 244 cu inches – used two tanks)
• Get copy of receipts to Eric to get to Nick to send to Majdalani
• Need to locate two Kaymont balloons
  • Either with Nick or in DLC still
• Should start collecting wind information
  • BalloonTrak procedure posted on WebCT
• Weather in Eau Claire looks like good chance for rain entire week of launch dates
• What are Marquette’s science payload team’s timelines?
• Use of WebCT from now on
• Make up calendar/list of days of when available over summer and get to Ann to compile

05.24.04 Elijah Team Meeting

Items discussed

• Check with Dr. Farrow about:
  • Getting helium from Roger (size of tanks)
  • Finding storage place for equipment on campus
  • Camping location in Eau Claire
• Nick has two Kaymont balloons, need to pick them up
• Get receipts to Nick
• Transportation for launch
• Recharge batteries
• Find/pick up missing Kenwood radio and Magellin GPS
• Get blue tarp and 12 ft. parachute
• Need to download 2002 APRS software
• Make sure all connections work (cables/plugs)
• Get two docking stations for laptops
• Drill hole in tracking capsule for camera to prevent lens from fogging up
• Need to get second APRS license
• Plan next meeting to be trial run of equipment for Wednesday, May 26 at 6:00 pm
  • Test battery life on camera

Proceedings

• Set up car tracking system and get it communicating properly between radio, GPS and laptop

05.26.04 Elijah Team Meeting

Items discussed

• Send user manual and member questionnaire to new members
• Email sent to Dr. Farrow – waiting to hear back
• Missing one GPS and one radio (probably in DLC at Marquette)
• Website pages
  • History
  • Updates (on main page with link to live APRS and call signs to watch for)
  • Links to other BalloonSat sites
  • Past launches (Elijah X and Elijah 1 with photos)
  • Equipment descriptions and specifications (with photos)
  • Team members and professors (past and present)
  • FAA regulations
  • Link to school websites, WSGC, NASA (all participating schools)
  • Overview of project – equipment layout
• Research anti-fog spray for camera lens
• Tentative launch date set for June 11/12
  • Need to contact Marquette science payload team

Proceedings

• Meet to get software, GPS and radios working
• Get all equipment working and communicating
• Battery dry test run for camera
  • Took 191 photos, running from 4:30 pm to 7:37 pm
• Eric showed team how to operate GPS, APRSPoint software, radios, and camera

06.17/18.04 Elijah 2 Launch

Launch timeline

Thursday, June 17

• 5:30pm to 7:30pm – meet at MSOE, pack
• 8:30pm – leave Milwaukee

Friday, June 18

• 1:00am – arrive at UW-Eau Claire athletic field
• 3:00am – science payload team arrives (to watch)
• 4:00am – begin launch preparation
• 6:40am – release balloon and begin chase
• 9:40am – predicted landing time
• 1:30pm – leave search area
• 5:00pm – arrive back in Milwaukee

06.23.04 Elijah Team Meeting

Items discussed

• No camera in next payload – save weight, time (don’t have to rebuild timing circuit)
• Need to buy new radio/gps
• Need to research new antenna – talk with Rich
• Research tracking transmitter/directional radio
• Consider cell phone/OnStar for tracking
• New cheap sounding device
• Need new batteries – found lithium ones
• Use Garmin gps if we get it working
• Still have radio/gps missing at Marquette
• New capsule to be made out of same plastic as before (Midland Plastics)
• Buy new parachute – 12 ft. dia. (with sewn in loop)
  • All red?  Red and black?
• Buy balloons (Kaymont)
  • Possible to get balloon to burst at 50,000 ft./carry 7 lbs?
• New lighter balloon valve (still have an old one we can use)
• New lighter parachute/capsule connector
• Add lights?
• Use BalloonTrak software on next launch
• Can add data logger if we want (same one used before)
• Continue website work – send link on WebCT
• Eventually want to expand on user manual
• New launch area?  (do research)
• Write up Elijah 2 launch
• Meet next Wed. evening

Items needing to be purchased

• Kenwood radio – see if we can get one donated by Kenwood/AES (Lisa)
• Magellen GPS – see if we can get one donated by Magellen (Eric)
• Antenna
• Parachute (Lisa)
• Balloons (Cara)
• Batteries (Eric)
• Plastic (Eric)
• Sounding device (Eric)
• Balloon nozzle hardware (Dan)
• Connection clip

07.22.04 Elijah Team Meeting

Items discussed

• Helium ready whenever needed, get from Roger (MSOE machine shop)
  • Have 1 and a half tanks left
• Balloon order to be sent to Sue W. at WSGC
  • Buy 4, currently have 1
• Plastic for capsule purchased, ready to be built
• New parachute arrived (Lisa paid for)
• Have receipts to get refunded for (last launch)
• WSGC presentation – Aug.l 19/20 in La Crosse
  • Gas and hotel paid for (if rooming with someone)
  • Possible to launch day after?
• Interim report sent to WSGC – no response yet
• Next launch:  2^nd week in Aug.? for MSOE launch team
  • Want test launch
  • Eric gone from July 30 to Aug. 4
• Research for tracking equipment
• Balloon nozzle:  have one we can use, trying to build new improved one
• Build capsule sometime next week

08.06.04 Elijah Team Meeting

Proceedings

• Work on Garmin GPS
  • Not successful
• Buy radio, GPS, and antenna from AES
• Build tracking capsule
  • Cut material and drill antenna holes

08.07.04 Elijah Equipment Testing

Proceedings

• Meet at Holy Hill at 11:00 am
• Drive up over 7 miles away
  • Test different antennas and directions
  • Test and learn operation of directional finder
• All tests successful

08.09/10.04 Elijah 3 Launch

Launch timeline

Monday, August 9

• 2:00 pm – meet at MSOE, finish building capsule
• 3:00 pm – leave Milwaukee

     –  drive up to Eau Claire and stay overnight at the Quality Inn

Tuesday, August 10

• 4:15 am – arrive at UW-Eau Claire athletic field to find it inaccessible
• 5:00 am – find new launch site, Fairfax Park
• 5:10 am – begin launch preparation
• 7:13 am – release balloon and begin chase
• 7:23 am – balloon becomes entangled in a tree
• around 7:35 am balloon becomes loose and begins to ascend; sight lost shortly afterwards
• 1:00 pm – leave search area
• 3:50 pm – phone call received stating balloon was found
• 5:00 pm – arrive back in Milwaukee

08.13.04 Elijah 3 Equipment Recovery Search

Proceedings

• Meet at 7:30 am to drive to Oconomowoc
• Meet with Eric at 8:30 at the Culvers in Oconomowoc and leave for Eau Claire
• Arrive in Eau Claire around noon
• Search for tracking equipment using directional finder in woods near where balloon became entangled in tree
• Follow path taken when tracking balloon visually on launch day while using directional finder
• No signal received from directional finder
• Return to Milwaukee without tracking equipment

08.16.04 Elijah Team Meeting

Items discussed

• Conference – Aug. 19/20 in La Crosse

–        Meet at 7:00 pm in hotel lobby (Wednesday, Aug 18)

§         Go out for dinner with launch and science payload teams

–        Prepare presentation (PowerPoint)

–        Presenting Thursday, Aug 19 between 10:30 am and 11:45 am

–        Should plan matching dress code – formal or WSGC shirts

• Helium tank cart to hold up cart at launch site
• Table to use for assembly during launch preparations
• Kevin (science payload team) looking into shirts
• Final report due shortly
• Transitional information (to be written by Ann?)

–        Include checklists

• Eric leaving for Tennessee this Sunday

–        Can possibly return for future launches

–        Need to build capsule before he leaves

• Website updated

–        Elijah 3 mission report and photos up online

–        Hope to have really helpful website for new-formed BalloonSat teams

• Next capsule:

–        Aluminum framework to attach all equipment to [5 ¾” dia & 6” tall]

§         Will fit inside Plexiglas container and attach to top

–        Fabric bag to fit around capsule

§         Same material as parachute?

§         Contact information embroidered on

–        Buy new scale – won’t lose

• Vadik has live-feel video working

–        Looking into way of transmitting signal or record on balloon

• New antenna set-up

–        Montana Space Grant uses antenna ground

–        Questions about antenna direction/gain

• Getting reimbursed

–        Get receipts to Dr. Farrow

Checklists established

• Member responsibilities

–        Before launch

§         Order balloons

§         Order helium

§         Record wind readings

§         Weather check

§         Charge batteries

§         Check capsule structure/integrity

§         Check electronics and computers (software)

§         Travel and launch site accommodations

§         Vehicles to be used (haul helium)

§         Notify Dr. Farrow of launch plans

§         Contact person with science payload team

–        During launch

§         Electronics set-up in car

§         Final equipment check

·        All equipment turned on in capsule

·        GPS reading on laptop & software working

§         Balloon filling process

·        Lift calculations

§         Vehicles full of fuel & restroom breaks

§         Launch weather authorization checklist

§         Assembly checklist

§         All equipment packed away (tarp, helium tanks secured)

§         Car assignments

·        Responsibilities of each person (2 drivers, 2 reading laptops, 1 directional finder, 1 spotting scope)

§         Record information

·        Take off time, launch site coordinates, amount of helium lift

–        After launch

§         Mission report written up

§         Data collection person

§         Discussion/brainstorm solutions/improvements

§         Notify Dr. Farrow

§         Updates posted on website

§         Post structure check

§         Post electronics check

§         Necessary repairs made

§         Data analysis

·        predictions compared to actual results – look for trends

• Weather checklist

–        Winds:  less than 5 mph

–        Cloud cover:  partly cloudy or better

–        Precipitation:  none

–        Temperature:  no restraint