DART III
Deployed Amateur Radio Technology
Near Space Exploration Group
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Aug 11, 2007
Flight Date : Aug 11, 2007
Configuration:
Balloon: Kaymont KCI 3000 3000g (6 Pounds)
Gas: Helium
Payload Box: Custom Made NO5X
Parachute: Orange and White, Chutes Specialties
Payload Box:
a. APRS: 144.340 Alinco DJ S-11, OpenTracker, Rand McNally GPS (ID NO5X-11)
b. CW ID Beacon: Homebrew KC5TRB Kit, 147.475 MHz, Vertical
c. APRS: 144.340 Alinco DJ S-11, OpenTracker, Rand McNally GPS (ID NX50-11)
d. Simplex repeater 444.600
Note:
This was the first mission that AD5JN tied the simplex repeater and mission control to Echolink.
Flight Management:
Flight Director, John Robbins - NO5X
Flight Engineer, Ronn Folk - AD5JN
Flight Logistics, Craig Wright - NX50 (ex KB5BOB)
Flight Support:
Flight Net Control, Tom Webb, WA9AFM
Flight APRS Coordinator, Norm Johnson, N0ELS
Flight APRS IGATE Bill Klebes, WA8EFC
Flight Consultant Harry Mueller, KC5TRB
Flight Photographer Ken Goddard, W5CGP
The Near Space Exploration Group launched D.A.R.T.-3
this morning at 08:37CST. Initially everything was ok, but shortly after launch
it was apparent that we were having trouble with the back-up Automated Position
Reporting System (APRS) transmitter. Position reports were intermittent and then
stopped altogether.
Fortunately the primary
APRS
system worked well.
We also noticed that the CW ID Beacon was weak and it's signal was not as strong
as it should have been.
I am happy to report that the Simplex Repeater appeared to work well and several
contacts were made though it.
Fifty minutes after launch we were at 67,748 feet. The next position received
indicated the balloon was descending. Burst had occurred shortly after achieving
the half way point of our goal. We have NO IDEA why the balloon failed.
The payload package parachuted back directly into the Oklahoma City Metro Area.
After some creative searching, pouring over data, and good fortune, the payload
was recovered successfully. A special thanks goes out to our new friends Mark &
Carol Huffman of Seligman, MO. Carol spotted the package hanging in thick vines
along the tree line.
WE WILL ATTEMPT THIS AGAIN...
Stay tuned.
Thanks to everyone that assisted, chased, and made donations to this effort. Fun
was had by all. Remember, that is why we do this!
J. Robbins, R. Folk, C Wright
Mission Net Control audio as recorded by WA6LIE (in California) from Echolink
Mission Recovery effort audio as recorded by WA6LIE (in California) from Echolink
Mission Quote:
Where Time, Energy and Money Are Consumed in a Caldron of Confusion and Chaos and Only Noise Escapes
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|||||
