A series of balloon launches by Dave VE3KCL using the QRP Labs Si5351A Synth kit and a custom U3 firmware version installed on an Arduino nano for low weight.
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Flight S-10, 09-May-2016 S-10 balloon has some improvements for lower weight. It crossed the Atlantic very fast without looping (unlike S-9). However it has trouble with the GPS. The last decoded WSPR transmission was 18-May-2016 01:06. |
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Flight S-9, 10-Apr-2016 S-9 balloon used two mylar party balloons, and cruised at around 10,000m. It was the most astoundingly successful flight to date. It almost circumnavigated, but just a few hours before it would have passed its Toronto starting longitude, it was brought down by bad weather that reached to high altitude. |
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Flight S-8, 30-Mar-2016 This balloon used a homemade envelope, and climbed to a record altitude of 13,220m. Unfortunately there was a leak and the balloon descended, for a total flight time of 10 hour, covering 783km in total. |
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Flight S-7, 11-Mar-2016 After a break of some months, the next balloon launch by Dave VE3KCL. There are several changes being tested on this flight. S-7 was launched successfully on 11-Mar-2016 at about 13:00 UT. It climbed steadily and travelled quickly East in strong winds. The following day it landed in the Atlantic due to very stormy weather. |
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Flight S-6, 24-Sep-2015 This is a similar balloon flight to S-4, but with certain improvements. S-6 was launched on 24-Sep-2015 at about 17:00 UT. It climbed steadily to 8,000m and made its way Eastwards. |
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Flight S-5, 04-Sep-2015 A rubber balloon was launched by Dave VE3KCL on 4th Sep at 12:08 UT. This flight was designed to be a quick climb to high altitude, burst, and then descend using a parachute. The flight duration was about 6 hours, and a flight altitude of 11,040m was reported before the GPS failed in the cold. This is a new U3 altitude record! |
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Flight S-4, 21-Aug-2015 Two foil "party" balloons filled with hydrogen. Launched 21-Aug-2015 13:40 UT. The balloon crossed the Atlantic quickly at around 8,000m altitude. It crossed France, Luxembourg, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Finland, Estonia, Sweden again, Norway, and finally landed in the Norwegian sea. The flight lasted almost 6 days and travelled over 10,000km. |
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Flight S-3, 28-Jul-2015 Two foil "party" balloons filled with hydrogen. Successful launch and climb to float altitude at almost 8,000m. Data telemetry using special WSPR format and JT9 on 30m, and CW for the reverse beacon network on other bands. The balloon flew for 6 days and 5 nights, over 4,300km. From Toronto, over US and out to the middle of the Atlantic. Great flight! |
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Flight S-2, 22-Jul-2015 Two foil "party" balloons filled with hydrogen. Successful launch. Climb stopped abruptly due to one balloon bursting at 4,120m. Data telemetry using special WSPR format and JT9 on 30m, and CW for the reverse beacon network on other bands. The short 2.5-hour flight was due to polluted gas - the hydrogen was mixed with some propane. |
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Flight S-1, 03-Jun-2015 Two foil "party" balloons filled with hydrogen. One balloon burst at 4,233m causing a gradual descent. Standard WSPR and JT9 data telemetry on 20m and 30m. The cause of the early descent of this short 2.5 hour, 68km flight was probably polluted gas (as for S-2, see above). |