Null Space Labs

Mission Overview

To successfully launch and recovery a high altitude balloon which will start near sea level, rise to 31,000m, and safely return to the surface all while transmitting the location of the payload. Ground teams must be prepared and trained to handle all radio communication from other teams and radio downlink from the payload.

Target Burst Altitude: 31,000m

Current Estimated Ascent Rate: 5.83 m/s

Current Estimate Decent Rate: 6.37 m/s

Current Payload Mass Estimate: 4 pounds or 1.81kg

Required Helium: 4.65m3 or 164 cu-ft or 4646L

Launch Time/Date: Current Launch date is set to Saturday March 30th, 2013 at 10:00am

Launch Location:\

Decimal:(34.109233,-115.682822)

Deg-Min-Sec:+34° 6' 33.34“, -115° 40' 58.83”

Altitude 395m

Launch/Landing Estimated Time Duration: 2 Hours 00 Minutes

The following is a simulation launch from Twentynine Palms on December 24th, 2012 at 10:00am. We can see the full flight path. Orange zones are difficult recovery zones. Red zones are water and will likely result in no recovery.

Orange zones are difficult recovery zones. Red zones are water and will likely result in no recovery. Green boxes are military airspace.. we don't want to go there.

System Overview

Rules and Regulations

RULES:

http://www.chem.hawaii.edu/uham/part101.html

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.3.15&idno=14

STEP 1: Email FAA requesting launch

STEP 2: Request/Obtain NOTAM

STEP 3: Obtain phone number for LA Center ARTCC (done)

STEP 4: Make phone calls to air control before and after launch

Flight Hardware

HABEX2 Initial CAD pictures available here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arkorobotics/sets/72157632317793340/ HABEX2 CAD Files: svn://svn.032.la:6699/032/HABEX2_CAD

Balloon

Balloon Hardware

BALLOON PART NO: HAB-1200 (1200 gram) - http://kaymontballoons.com/Near_Space_Photography.html

Ascent Rate Calculations

USE THE FOLLOWING CALCULATOR: http://www.cusf.co.uk/calc/

Current Estimated Ascent Rate: \ 5.83 m/s

Helium Specs

Required Helium: \ \ \ 4.65m3 \ or \ 164 cu-ft \ or \ 4646L

Burst Altitude

Current Estimated Burst Altitude: \ 31,000m

Parachute

Parachute Hardware

48“ Parachute: http://www.rocketchutes.com/ http://spherachutes.com/items/spherachutes/list.htm

Tabs Grommets -\ http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Hodge-1073A-0-Grommet-Kits/dp/B00004Y68Y/

Decent Rate Calculations

Decent Velocity Calculations: http://my.execpc.com/~culp/rockets/descent.html

Current Estimate Decent Rate: 6.37 m/s

Parachute Testing

Parachute Test's:

From 35ft drop to test parachute deploy system. Two different arrangements will be tested.

1) Drop test with Balloon tied to parachute, parachute tied to payload.

2) Drop test with balloon tied to the payload and the parachute tied 1/3 the way down from the ballon

Camera Tests:

Payload

Payload Overview

Payload Mass

Current Total Payload Mass: 4 pounds or 1.81kg

Payload Hardware Layout

3D model of the HABEX payload: <html> <iframe frameborder=“0” height=“480” width=“854” allowFullScreen webkitallowfullscreen=“true” mozallowfullscreen=“true” src=“http://skfb.ly/lki2dcb?autostart=0&transparent=0&autospin=0&controls=1&watermark=1”></iframe> </html> Polystyrene Cold Box XPL11

Tracking Radio Alpha

HABEX Primary Radio - Radio Alpha - Micro-Trak RTG FA

The primary radio for HABEX2 is a Micro-Trak RTG FA. The radio has an input for power and a GPS module, the output is an APRS packet with the GPS coordinates/altitude on 144.390Mhz (1W-10W). \

More Information:

Micro-Track RTF FA: (\ www.byonics.com/mt-rtg\ )

APRS: (\ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Packet_Reporting_System\ )

Alpha Radio Status

The hardware will be purchased and tested. After a design analysis we will determine if a redesign is necessary for the given environment. We will take into consideration thermal and pressure properties.

Prototype hardware has been purchased for basic testing. FA High Altitude hardware will be purchased this week.

Alpha Radio Specs

HABEX Radio Alpha - Micro Trak RTG FA - Circuit Analysis: habex_radio_alpha_circuit_analysis.pdf

Specs:

Micro Trak RTG FA:

Operating Input Voltage Range: 8v ≤ Vin ≤ 15.0v
Expected Output Voltage Range: 4.8v ≤ Vlogic ≤5.2v
Operating Temperature Range: -30C to +80C
RF Power Range: 1.75W - 2.25W (Target: 2W)
Operating Pressure: Unknown
Operating Current: 0.05A - 0.17A

Battery (8 AA Lithium):

Expected Output Voltage Range: 6.4v ≤ Vbattery ≤ 12.0v
Expected Current: 0.05A - 0.17A
Current Rating: 0.00A - 3.0A (5.0A pulse)
Operating Temperature Range: -40C to +60C
Operating Pressure: Unknown

Expected Duration of Operation: \ 70 Hours\ (Calculated based on 3000mAh rating and Energizer L91 datasheet drain plots)
- Battery Analysis: http://www.batteryshowdown.com/results-lo.html

Physical:

Dimensions: 8” x 4“ x 2”
Mass: 1lb

Alpha Radio Datasheets and Documentation

Derating & Temperature Spreadsheet: radio_alpha_parts.xlsx PIC16F1826 Datasheet: 41391d.pdf Lithium AA Battery Datasheet: l91.pdf \ LM7805 Datasheet: lm7805.pdf \ MCD2006G (RF Transmitter) Datasheet: mcd2006g.pdf \ RA08H1317M (RF Power Amplifier) Datasheet: ra08h1317m.pdf \

HABEX Radio Alpha - Micro Trak RTG FA - Circuit Analysis: habex_radio_alpha_circuit_analysis.pdf

Battery Analysis: http://www.batteryshowdown.com/results-lo.html

Tracking Radio Bravo

HABEX Secondary Radio - Radio Bravo - NSL Tracker

Inexpensive GSM/GPS backup tracker for our HABEX2 project.\ There are a couple out on the market. Things for tracking your pets and such.\ But instead of buying one, we wanted to make one that's easily hackable and could be configured specifically for the HABEX mission.\ At the core of the tracker is simcom's SIM908 module.

Wikipage for the tracker:nsl_tracker

T-Mobile Coverage: AT&T Coverage: \ \

Bravo Radio Status

Bravo Radio Specs

Bravo Radio Datasheets and Documentation

Tracking Radio Charlie

HABEX Backup Radio - Radio Charlie - RF Beacon

Charlie Radio Status

Charlie Radio Specs

The Charlie beacon is a simple UHF transmitter that broadcasts an intermittent FM tone with morse identification. This beacon is tracked using a directional Yagi antenna, compass and GPS from at least 2 ground stations. Beacon hits are plotted on a map and triangulation is used to locate the package.

Recommended tracking antenna:Simple 70cm Yagi

Charlie Radio Datasheets and Documentation

Specs:

Frequency range user programmable in 250Hz steps from 420-450 Mhz
Built-in 1/4 wavelength whip antenna
Output power user selectable from -8 to +24 dBm
Size less than 2x5cm, 6gm (board only)
PC programmable call sign, frequency, and tone parameters (requires optional serial port adapter)
On board voltage regulator for 4-12 volt input (see documentation for restrictions)
Low voltage battery protection
Range: Tested on the ground to over 5 miles, and over 180 *miles* in the air!

Links:

Science Payload

HABEX Science Payload

Current list of sensors in the science payload, tentatively named “Null Space Labs”

Science Payload Status

Science Payload Specs

Science Payload Datasheets and Documentation

Eagle files live here:

spacelab1.zip

Camera

HABEX Camera

Current list of cameras in the science payload. Tenative plan is a Canon SD450 running CHDK for still photography and a HackHD camera for taking HD video of ascent/descent

Currently, the SD450 is listed as only rated to operate from 0-40C and the HackHD is listed at Sparkfun as operating from -10C-45C. It may be necessary to provide on-board heating to keep the cameras operational during flight. Investigate “ANTI-FOG STRIPS” as a solution. Electronics may need to be wrapped in kapton tape to keep moisture out.

Camera Status

Camera Specs

Camera Datasheets and Documentation

Hardware Testing

Hardware testing must be done on both the flight mechanical hardware to simulate conditions of near space as well as hardware testing on electronics to simulate operation in environmental conditions inside the body of the craft.

Information about EMC Testing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_compatibility

Environmental / Reliability Testing

Expected External Environmental Conditions

Thermal Minimum: -70C (Lowest Day Time Temperature at 100,000ft)

Thermal Maximum: +55C (Mohaves Record High Temperature)

Pressure Minimum: \ 1010 Pa (pascals) \ or 0.01atm (1% of pressure at sea level) \ (estimate pressure at 100,000ft)

Pressure Maximum: 101,325 Pa (pascals) \ or \ 1 atm \ (pressure at launch/landing site)

Humidity Minimum: \ 0% (Hot dry Mohave Desert)

Humidity Maximum: 100% (Flying through clouds)

Expected Internal Environmental Conditions

Thermal Minimum: -40C

Thermal Maximum: +50C

Pressure Minimum: \ 1010 Pa (pascals) \ or 0.01atm (1% of pressure at sea level) \ (estimate pressure at 100,000ft)

Pressure Maximum: 101,325 Pa (pascals) \ or \ 1 atm \ (pressure at launch/landing site)

Humidity Minimum: \ 0%

Humidity Maximum: 80%

RF Testing, to be defined later, will involve testing the rf outputs of all tracking devices. Specs will be reviewed and documented to assure that there is no interference between devices and so the team know what radios to prepare.

Complete Systems Testing, to be defined later, will involve testing the entire payload at the same time for 8 hours to simulate a flight.

Environmental Thermal Vacuum Chamber

In order to simulate the conditions of high altitude flight we must either buy or build our own thermal-vac chamber. Since commercial ones cost more than $10k, we will be designing, and building our own low cost thermal-vac chamber.

Details can be found here: thermal_vac_chamber

Hardware Status

Download Test Status: habex_test_status.xlsx

Launch

Launch Information

Launch Time/Date: Current Launch date is set to Saturday March 30th, 2013 at 10:00am
Launch Location: Latitude 34.1318 deg N , Longitude -115.9094 deg W , Altitude 395m
Launch/Landing Estimated Time Duration: 2 Hours 00 Minutes

Packing List

The Following list does not include the details flight hardware, please refer to flight hardware list

Bottles of Helium (at least 5000L)
Extra Helium
Value Adapters
Balloon Filling Station with gauges and values
Tarp
Gloves
Technora
Duct Tape
Metcal and Solder
Multimeter
Ham radios (2 meter, 20cm), digital decoder or laptop
Audio cables (male/male headphone jack)
Laptops with MixW (interface with decoder)
Flight Hardware (Specified): Balloon, Rope, Parachute, Payload
Scale for weighing payload
Spring Scale for measure balloon necklift

Team

TELL ME WHERE TO GO (“UNDECIDED” or “I don't know which team to join..”)

sandplum

all I have is a screwdriver…. can I join anyway?

Fritz - Can't do wiki but has a General Class License

JGalt

TH-F6A triband HT (2M/220/440

directional antenna for 2m/440 (handheld beam)

argent data T2-301 with nuvi350 - this makes for a complete aprs station complete with display and messaging without needing a laptop. will also send aprs data to usb or rs-232 serial port for use with laptop. (T2-301 is a full 2m tranciever and tnc in one box, nuvi350 adds display and messaging) may consider loaning this out for the day to equip a 2nd chase vehicle.

laptop computer

extra class ham license.

May need to ride with someone or may have vehicle TBD

Blakangel

- A full size car

- Two ham radios w/ VHF. Various other receivers w/ VHF band and speaker output

- various antennas (one or two mag mount i think), coax cabling, connectors, adapters.

- Tools, experience building RF cable assemblies and antennas

- I have 4 or 5 RTL-SDR (r820T) dongles i bought to donate to NSL for SDR radio stuff. I also have a few personal dongles (e4000 tuner and r820t)

- laptops with sdr software. (work laptop and personal laptop)

CHRIS

- May or may not have a car - Will have 2 radios, hoping to get licensed before March - Totes have a laptop

skroo

- Light-duty 4×4 (lifted Subaru Forester, able to lock transfer case for real 4WD)

- Radios: Yaesu VX-5 and FT-8900 (FT-8900 is built into ammo can with 17Ah battery for portability)

- Pair of ex-cop ruggedised GSM/GPS radios (designed for vehicular use position reporting; have full 2.5G GSM radios built-in)

- Standalone GPS (Garmin GPSmap 60CSX)

- Laptop and phone with various ham radio packages installed

- Echolink & aprs.fi verified

- Familiar with general area, terrain, and environment

sign up here

Alpha Team

FLIGHT
- Arko
- Skape
- Davo
COMM
- BB
- Jayen
GROUND NORTH
- Sign up here
GROUND\ EAST
- Cnelson
- A bunch of ninjas
GROUND\ SOUTH
- Braddock Gaskill braddock@braddock.com
- Sign up here

Bravo Team

MMCA
Charliex

Charlie Team

Arclight

Science Team

Viduata

Camera Team

Docwho

Capabilities

Must be able to prepare and launch balloon
Must be able to communicate with the payload before & after launch\
Must be able to read and properly execute pre-flight check list

Launch Conditions

Predicted landing zone is clear within a certain radius
Using multiple tools to predict landing site
Change parameters within error to get a better idea of the landing site

TODO:

Make a map of “bad” or “non accessible” zones (bad mountains, water, etc.)

Launch Procedure

Stage 0:

Weather predictor shows good landing location, run with multiple scenarios, run on different predictors (use different websites too).
Import flight prediction kml into google earth and check it against the “LAND ZONE” and “AIRSPACE” kml's, as well as visual inspection with at least 2 other people looking it over.
Projected launch window is good and a GO
Final mass is within error
Launch and Recovery Teams are at their given locations (could change based on weather predictor)
Radio communication is good

Stage 1:

Inspect Balloon for tears or errors
Measure neck lift of balloon, do this in low wind conditions
Check rope for tears or errors
Check rope tie points
Check parachute for tears or errors
Inspect payload tie points and harness
Check temperature of electronics
Check ALL battery voltages
Connect ALL batteries

Stage 2:

Power on Radio Alpha
Check Radio Alpha functionality
Ensure GPS Lock
Check for valid packets
Listen to transmission for any volume anomalies
Assure nothing else is transmitting around the same time
Check laptop/ham, make sure volume is tuned well, No SQL, make sure connections are good.
Check with all Alpha Team ground units, assure their equipment is functional.
Receive at least 8 APRS Packets
Check with the Alpha Team ground units to see if they are receiving a signal
Requirement is that launch site can decode the APRS with TWO separate setups
Check aprs.fi
Check temperature of Radio Alpha Electronics
Check Radio Alpha connections to assure they are connected, fit, and locked/tied in
Check for possible hazards like things getting caught and pulling on connectors
Log APRS packets
Alpha Team equipment is functional, everyone is GO
Radio Alpha is GO

Stage 3:

Power on Radio Bravo
Check Radio Bravo functionality
Receive at least 8 text messages with GPS location
Check temperature of Radio Bravo
Check Radio Bravo connections to assure they are connected, fit, and locked/tied in
Check for possible hazards like things getting caught and pulling on connectors
Receive 2 more text messages with GPS location
Bravo Team equipment is functional, everyone is GO
Radio Bravo is GO

Stage 4:

Power on Radio Charlie
Check Radio Charlie functionality
Check all antennas, signal gain, and radios
Check temperature of Radio Charlie
Check Radio Charlie connections to assure they are connected, fit, and locked/tied in
Check for possible hazards like things getting caught and pulling on connectors
Charlie Team equipment is functional, everyone is GO
Radio Charlie is GO

Stage 5:

Power on Science Payload
Check Science Payload functionality
Verify SD Card is installed
Pull Data for a test (not required)
Check Science Payload Temperature
Check any connections to the Science Payload, assure they are connected, fit, and locked/tied in
Check for possible hazards like things getting caught and pulling on connectors
Science Payload equipment is functional
Science Payload is GO

Stage 6:

Power on Camera
Check Camera functionality
Verify SD Card is installed
Pull Images for a test
Check Camera Temperature
Check any connections to the Camera, assure they are connected, fit, and locked/tied in
Check for possible hazards like things getting caught and pulling on connectors
Camera equipment is functional
Camera is GO

Stage 7:

Allow all electronics to run at the same time for at least 15 minutes with NO anomalies
Weigh the payload with parachute
Check for any loose parts, assure nothing can detach, break off, move/bounce around inside or outside
Check tie to parachute rope for tears or errors, assure a tight connection
Winds on ground a calm for launch
Every radio is functional and none of the radios are interfering
Call FAA (either ZLA ARTCC or SoCal TRACON as appropriate) and notify them the time of launch
Begin audio/video recording
Begin audio recording of telemetry radios (APRS radios)
Begin audio recording of communication radios
Check in with everyone, get a GO from all teams
HABEX2 is ready for launch
Launch the damn thing!

HABEX Flight Prediction Software (Powered by the CUSF Hourly Predictor)

In Progress

Servers are being configured to run a cron job once every 6 hours with new weather data to predict the landing path of HABEX for each hour of the next 24 hours. These records will be kept to create a statistical analysis of different launch sites and to determine the optimal launch/landing zones.

Instructions:

1) Download and install: https://github.com/cuspaceflight/cusf-landing-prediction

2) Follow: http://pastebin.com/vvB2VySE

3) compile the C program inside pred_src

4) cmake libglib and build-essential

The following is an hourly prediction of the HABEX launch. The path trajectory is calculated for each hour and the landing spot for that hour is represented by a single red dot. The way to translate this data you are seeing is like this. The launch location is the same. Imagine being at that launch location with HABEX and launching it on hour 1, it will take off, rise, burst, and land. That landing location is represented by a single red dot. The following red dots are where it would land if you were launch it each proceeding hour.

This is very helpful in that you can see where it will be landing in the hours ahead. This was developed by CUSF.

Click the red dots to see the path.

HABEX Hourly Predictor - Launch Location: Twentynine Palms

HABEX Hourly Predictor - Launch Location: Monrovia, CA

HABEX Hourly Predictor - Launch Location: Indio

HABHUB Predictor

Here we observe other launches altitude data:

Ascent:

Decent:

Other Prediction Software

http://weather.uwyo.edu/polar/balloon_traj.html

http://habhub.org/predict/

http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map_input?form=googleearth <— Use this to convert csv to kml

Tracking/Recovery

Each week and the days leading to launch, simulations will be done to determine the optimal launch and recovery zones. Teams will be dispersed accordingly. Briefings will be held in the weeks leading to launch and recovery day.

Supplies and coordination will be clarified as we finalize the design.

TODO:

Create a map of radio range overlapped with predicted flight path.
Get audio recordings of the APRS radios
Get audio recordings of HAM net (ground communication)

ALL TEAMS - REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Reliable vehicle
Full tank of gas
2m/70cm communications radio (at least 1 per car, separate from tracking radios)
AAA or Delorme map of California
Charger for communication radio and/or spare batteries
Cell phone with charger
1 gallon of water per vehicle
Food and snacks for 24 hours
Flashlight
GPS (hand-held or vehicle mounted)
Laptop (with audio mic input)
Laptop Charger
Power Inverter (Car plug to AC)
Audio cables and any adapters for tracking
Mag mount antenna, backup antenna
RF connectors

Optional Equipment:

Sleeping bag and tarp/tent
Headlamp for night recovery
Day pack as hiking may be required

Off-road Recovery units - Suggested equipment

High-clearance 4WD vehicle with fresh service (fluids, tires, etc)
Full-size spare tire
1 gallon of water per person
Overnight supplies, including sleeping bags for each person
Vehicle-mounted radio or HT radio with external antenna
Shovel
Recovery strap (20' min)
Hi-lift jack
Delorme Atlas for California/Nevada/Arizona or other maps (can be digital)
Hand-held GPS
Magnetic compass

Wilderness Recovery units - Required equipment

Sturdy hiking shoes
Hat, sunglasses, weather-appropriate clothing
Day pack
2 liters of water
Magnetic compass with declination
Paper maps as needed
Hand-held GPS
Headlamp with spare batteries
Reliable 2m HT (2+ per group)
Snacks and overnight supplies
Matches or ligher
Rain gear

Alpha Tracking Team

Team will have 3g/4g hotspots as well as ham radios (2m,70cm) with digital decoders, omni and directional antennas. The team will use these tools to track the flight of craft.

Radio's must be able to tune to 144.390Mhz and decode APRS (AX25 encoding)

Radio audio outputs can be connected to a computer a decoded using:

Antennas:

Ideally we would like to use a quadrifilar helicoidal antenna:

http://jcoppens.com/ant/qfh/calc.en.php

http://www.g4ilo.com/qfh.html

Hex Editor/Converter:

Please have a hex editor/converter handy:

https://www.google.com/search?q=hex+editor&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

http://home.paulschou.net/tools/xlate/

Android APRS Decoder (mic input): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.aprsdroid.app&hl=en

Software TNC:

MixW - APRS Decoder: http://polysat.calpoly.edu/earthstation/software/mixw/index.php If it doesn't load, try Google Cache:http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:QeQpeGckl2YJ:polysat.calpoly.edu/earthstation/software/mixw/index.php+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

Install Instructions: http://www.twarc.org/departments/digital-modes/agwpe---free-version/agwpe-freeware

APRS ISCE - APRS Decoder: http://aprsisce.wikidot.com/

QTMM - APRS Decoder: http://sourceforge.net/projects/qtmm/

Physical TNC: Radio audio outputs can also be connected to a physical TNC: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/pdffiles/MFJ-1270X.pdf

Bravo Tracking Team

Team will have cellphones. And strippers, lots of strippers.

Charlie Tracking Team

Team will have directional antennas with appropriate gear to triangulate and calculate the position of the craft. Charlie beacon will be Big Red Bee on 433.920Mhz, FM with tone and tone-based CW callsign ID.

Equipment for Charlie team includes:

Basic team equipment above
70cm tracking antenna such as Simple 70cm Yagi
HAM Radio or scanner capable of receiving 70cm. Should also have a bar-graph or meter for signal strength
Magnetic compass with adjustable declination
Hand-held GPS
Optional 2m tracking antenna for RDF on the 2m beacon
Laptop running Maptech Pro (team leader)

APRS decoding with an SDR or Ham Radio/Audio Output

Step 1: Obtain the appropriate hardware

In terms of hardware, there are two ways to receive APRS data:

Use a cheap DVB-T dongle as your receiver. Be sure to get one with the RTL283x chipset; you'll have to use Google to find out which ones do or do not have this. We've had good luck with ones using the RTL2838UHIDIR.
Use a real Ham Radio, buy or create an audio cable that connects the speaker output of the radio to the computer audio input, have the software decode the radio's audio

Step 2: Obtain the appropriate software

Windows

Using SDR#:

Follow directions at the below link to get SDR# set up:\ rtlsdr.org/softwarewindows
Radio WFM
Filter Bandwidth 14000
VFO Approx 144 MHz

Install MixW\ mixw.net/index.php

In MixW:

Set Mode -> Packet
Set Mode -> Mode Settings -> Modem -> VHF 1200 baud (Standard)
Go to Configure -> Sound Device Settings
Select your Stereo Mix for Input
Speakers for output (to monitor)

If the above doesn't work you may have a shitty sound card like CHRIS. Download (TPB) and install Virtual Audio Cable. Install the device and set SDR# to send out to it. Set MixW to read from it.

OS X

APRS packets have successfully been decoded using the gqrx SDR and one of the cheapo DVB-T dongles with the RTL2838UHIDIR chipset. This was under OS X 10.8.2 (two days later, 10.8.3) with gqrx installed from gqrx_7.dmg and the laughably-terrible antenna supplied with the DVB-T dongle.

Some notes about gqrx:

The dongle worked out-of-the-box with no special configuration. If you don't hear anything, turn up the gain under 'receiver options'
Expect +/- 20Khz variation from intended receive frequency with the dongle
Filter was set to User @ 50Khz, mode: narrow FM. Hand-trimming the filter width was necessary
Start the AFSK1200 decoder before starting the DSP; starting it after may audibly slur / corrupt the audio, meaning you can't decode APRS packets
Squelch has no fine adjustment, so expect to have to alter gain (also no fine adjustment) to compensate
Turning on audio recording will, by default, annoyingly save the .wav files generated to whatever directory you installed gqrx to. If that's /Applications, look there

Cross-platform (XASTIR)

If you feel like stepping into the wonderful world of software that nobody has really tested yet, check out XASTIR. We're not saying it's not good software, just that none of us are actually using it so can't comment on its usefulness. However, it's supposed to be really awesome for APRS and apparently runs on every platform under the sun. Yay!

= A note about XASTIR on OS X =

Because OS X does things in weird ways, it's recommended to get XASTIR in pre-built form from here. Read the instructions before trying to install it; you'll save yourself a lot of heartache. It will also require the current version of XQuartz in order to work. Note that this is presently untested though it is confirmed as at least installable and executable on OS X 10.8.3. The map data seems to be taking forfreakingever to download and install; YMMV.

XASTIR is available in Macports, but it's a slightly older version and doesn't build properly - at least, that's the case under XCode 4.6.1. Just get the binaries.

Step 3: Decode the captured packets

Offline Method (RECOMMENDED):

APRS Decoder for Windows: \ \ HABEX_2_APRS Windows
APRS Decoder for Mac: \ HABEX_2_APRS Mac
APRS Decoder for Linux: \ HABEX_2_APRS Linux

Online Method (Use only if you have an internet connection):

There is a tool for online APRS packet decoding at mice.habexproject.org. Follow the instructions there (if you can copy & paste, this should not be difficult) and you'll be able to see the positioning data as both human-readable text and a pointer on a map.

Landing Zones

Anything that is not an Orange or Red Zone is an OK landing site:

DOWNLOAD THE KML: habex_no_land_zones.7z

Additional Links

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_prolong_lithium_based_batteries https://github.com/cuspaceflight http://showcase.netins.net/web/wallio/FOOTPRINT.html SUPER USEFUL LINKS: http://ukhas.org.uk/frontpage:guides http://ukhas.org.uk/

Point of Failure

Radio, Electronics, and Payload

RF reflection to power transistor (degradation)
Power Regulator failure
Antenna coming apart
GPS/Power Connector coming loose
GPS/Power Connector losing contact due to temperature change causing pins to shink
RF Transistor Overheating
Losing GPS lock
GPS unable to get altitude above 60,000ft
GPS unable to recapture GPS signal
Condensation on electronics shorting or effecting circuitry (Use acrylic spray to seal circuits)

Parachute

Tangling with balloon or parachute, thus preventing proper deployment

Balloon

Cuts on the ground
Rope tie slipping
Need a filling station
Enough helium
Correct amount of helium for proper burst altitude

Unorganized Goals, Concerns, Ideas, etc.

~~Calculate Helium (or) Hydrogen required~~
~~Calculate Rise/Fall rate~~
~~Calculate target payload mass~~
~~Calculate mass variance (mass gains from humidity, mass lost from balloon, etc.)~~
Figure out balloon filling station and how to tie the balloon off.
Parachute testing
Nichrome/Receiver for cut off, testing
Determine max acceleration on payload
Design frame? Styrofoam?
Possibly make an RTTY Trasmitter on 434?
Antenna type for both payload and ground
~~Antenna orientation~~
Condensation effecting electronics
Create an environmental chamber (thermal/vac)
Pick electrical sealant based on testing (acrylic spray?)
Choosing a primary and backup APRS/AX.25 decoder (software and hardware configuration)
Create a setup and testing manual for aprs decoder
Test the aprs decoder in multiple senarios (low volume, transmitter is far away, etc)
Derating ALL electronic parts
Calculate tensile strength of all ropes and tie points
Create a list of possible launch locations and recovery locations
Setup HABEX Predictor to run multiple instances of different launch/recovery senarios
Have a list ready for the teams to disburse to
BRING force gauge to measure neck lift
Record all audio (com, ops, aprs, etc)
All electronics REQUIRE peer review of at least 2 people
Make sure everyone has enough fuel in their cars
Find alternative software to MixW
Create a software package for everyone to download
Create frequency plan & everyone gets a paper with everyone's cell numbers

HAVE A SAFETY PERSON
Figure out how to get places that are unaccessable (mountain, private property, dangerous)

Launch & Recovery

Launch Day

Recovery Day

Flight Pictures

Layerone 2013 Talk - Near Space Exploration - Arko

http://imgur.com/a/jSOVz#0

Flight Data

Mostly raw dump HAB.TXT
Cleaned up data dump bdm8O5fOq9
Huge Excel doc with formatted timestamps index.php

Table of Contents

Mission Overview

System Overview

Rules and Regulations

Flight Hardware

Balloon

Balloon Hardware

Ascent Rate Calculations

Helium Specs

Burst Altitude

Parachute

Parachute Hardware

Decent Rate Calculations

Parachute Testing

Payload

Payload Overview

Payload Mass

Payload Hardware Layout

Tracking Radio Alpha

Alpha Radio Status

Alpha Radio Specs

Alpha Radio Datasheets and Documentation

Tracking Radio Bravo

Bravo Radio Status

Bravo Radio Specs

Bravo Radio Datasheets and Documentation

Tracking Radio Charlie

Charlie Radio Status

Charlie Radio Specs

Charlie Radio Datasheets and Documentation

Science Payload

Science Payload Status

Science Payload Specs

Science Payload Datasheets and Documentation

Camera

Camera Status

Camera Specs

Camera Datasheets and Documentation

Hardware Testing

**Environmental / Reliability Testing**

__Expected External Environmental Conditions__

__Expected Internal Environmental Conditions__

**Environmental Thermal Vacuum Chamber**

**Hardware Status**

Launch

Launch Information

Packing List

Team

Capabilities

Launch Conditions

Launch Procedure

HABEX Flight Prediction Software (Powered by the CUSF Hourly Predictor)

HABEX Hourly Predictor - Launch Location: Twentynine Palms

HABEX Hourly Predictor - Launch Location: Monrovia, CA

HABEX Hourly Predictor - Launch Location: Indio

HABHUB Predictor

Other Prediction Software

Tracking/Recovery

Alpha Tracking Team

Bravo Tracking Team

Charlie Tracking Team

APRS decoding with an SDR or Ham Radio/Audio Output

Step 1: Obtain the appropriate hardware

Step 2: Obtain the appropriate software

Windows

OS X

Cross-platform (XASTIR)

Step 3: Decode the captured packets

Landing Zones

Additional Links

Point of Failure

Radio, Electronics, and Payload

Parachute

Balloon

Unorganized Goals, Concerns, Ideas, etc.

Launch & Recovery

Launch Day

Recovery Day

Flight Pictures

Layerone 2013 Talk - Near Space Exploration - Arko

Environmental / Reliability Testing

Expected External Environmental Conditions

Expected Internal Environmental Conditions

Environmental Thermal Vacuum Chamber

Hardware Status