Ballon launches this weekend ?

[VK2FAK]

Hi all...

Is there going to be 2 balloon launches this weekend...?

what is the forecast direction of travel at this point in time...?

If so....a heads-up and update would be good...there is no point springing it on everyone at the last minute which does seem to be the Operational method...

And what is this new mode they will be trying out....that may require some new equipment and software.. ?

There were comments regarding JT9 on the last launch doing ok, but I see it does not get a run this time....or like last time we get told its there just be launch...

come on guys....people are interested ....give them information...

John

[VK3BQ]

The project space balloon team email from 1st jan.

**********

Hi all,

From PSB team, Happy New Year, and thank you for your assistance in the past year.

We had fun playing with HAB, and it would not have been the same without you!

Our next balloon launch will be on the weekend of 18-19 January 2014 from Southern NSW. We will try to keep things simple this time and will have SSDV, RTTY, APRS and spread spectrum on VHF/UHF on the first day, and focus on HF with THOR4, JT65 and WSPR on the second day, with SSDV on UHF as a secondary payload. Expected altitude is at least 30,000m.

We will test out Spread Spectrum as implemented in the KickSat project (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zac ... t-in-space). This will be a good practice run if you plan to track the KickSat nano spacecrafts in 2014.

Test transmissions for HF and spread spectrum on UHF will be on from time to time from Melbourne in the next few weeks. Please check our web site for details.

We will be in #PSB IRC chat room http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=PSB on the day.
Hope to see you there, and assistance with tracking is greatly appreciated.

Regards,

PSB team
http://projectspaceballoon.net




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[VK2FAK]

Hi all...

Yeah I did read that....but that was what....14 days ago.....a nice update would be good to confirm everything and any changes..

And more important.....it would help if a estimate of the Launch time was available ...and are the launches being made on both days or just the one as they mention Launching 2 Balloons......plenty of info never mentioned...


John

[VK3BQ]

i tried to get andy to join the forum.. i did try.. no info means no support beyond their team..

[VK2FAK]

Hi all...

Good that you gave it a shot.......its all good..

people experimenting ,keeps adding a little interest to the hobby.....so hope it all goes to plan this weekend..

John

[VK2GFR]

Anyone know of this... courtesy FlightRadar.com Just out of Christchurch. HBALXXX
Aircraft HELIUM BALLON
Registration(700068) GOOGLE
Altitude0 ft Vertical Speed 0 fpm
Speed 0 kt Track218°
Latitude -43.5176 Longitude 172.6962
Radar F-NZCH2 Squawk N/A

T***Intermittent appearances***

[VK3DXE]

Anyone know of this... courtesy FlightRadar.com Just out of Christchurch. HBALXXX
Aircraft HELIUM BALLON
Registration(700068) GOOGLE
Altitude0 ft Vertical Speed 0 fpm
Speed 0 kt Track218°
Latitude -43.5176 Longitude 172.6962
Radar F-NZCH2 Squawk N/A

T***Intermittent appearances***

It could be the Google balloon that was launched over VK3 last week?


Personally, I wouldn't be using their service. Imagine the data they're mining from this project.

[VK3RX]

http://www.google.com/loon/
None have been launched from Australia. A couple have orbited over and past Australia including the one last week, which were launched from NZ earlier this year.