Low-Cost Balloon Launches

The following is a list of equipment we are considering for launching low cost balloons, along with notes weighing the pros and cons of each item. This is a page used by the near-space balloon team for planning purposes, and is posted here for teachers and students to get an idea of what the equipment selection process involves. We are considering the initial purchase cost of the equipment, any annual fees associated with it, and the perceived risk/reliability of the product.

Balloon Options:
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One of our stock Kaymont Balloons
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A smaller Kaymont Balloon

Parachute Options:
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Store-bought ($)

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Home-made:
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cheaper
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requires a sewing machine
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can be made to our specifications
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more time consuming
Wooden Hoop for Parachute: ■
standard, bought from a crafts store
Radar Reflector:
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Made out of cardboard and reflective foil and made to reflect radar waves, it lets airplanes know that our balloon is there.

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Super cheap and easy to make

Payload Box:
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Simple styrafoam box
Telemetry: Here is where things get interesting. The following is a list of a known telemetry devices by others, as well as links to who uses them.
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Stratostar Command Module (XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/site/ucsdnearspaceballoon/equipment-used)

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Stratostar Backup Beacon (XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/site/ucsdnearspaceballoon/equipment-used)

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300mW Alico DJ-s11 w/ Byonics TinyTrak 3 (XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXm)
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$90 for Alico and $107 for TinyTrak with GPS and case, Total ~ $200
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GM862-CPS cellular module with SiRF III GPS and Python interpreter (XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/halo/flight2/)
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Looks a bit complicated
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$160 plus a Python interpreter board of unknown cost
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Boost Mobile Cell phone with tracking software (XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/site/viewearthfromspace/project-pegasus-pictures-of-earth-from-space)
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basically what my friends and I did, but they bought proprietary software
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~$45 used
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SPOT Personal tracker (XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/site/viewearthfromspace/project-pegasus-pictures-of-earth-from-space)
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$150 to purchase unit. $150 yearly fee per unit to use.



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Garmin Multi Tracker (XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXml)
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A multi-balloon tracking system used with hunting dog

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Handheld unit communicates with dog collars using radio signals, not satellite communication. Line of sight maximum range is 7 miles.

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from $600 for one dog to $2400 for ten dogs/balloons


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Byonics Micro-Trak All In One (XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/missions/apteryx/XXXXXXXXml#science)
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this is what my friends and I used for the first launch

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Super reliable, watertight, with a very strong signal and long battery life

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Because it is a ham beacon it can be tracked online via Iphone

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Not the cheapest solution
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$260
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Motorla i290 cell phone with custom code integrated with XXXXXXXXXtwork (XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX/)
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this is what my friends and I built as the cheapest potential tracking solution

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$50 motorola phone new (cheaper on ebay) + $10 for credits = $60 total

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Has not been thoroughly tested

Camera:
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One of our Canon Cameras, programmed with CHDK

Launch Tips
The more cell phone carriers used, the better. Cell phone coverage in remote locations can be unreliable, and varies widely between carriers. If several carriers are used by the team, the likelihood of having a working cell phone is increased. Internet is a valuable resource.  Having a Smartphone has saved us on more than one occasion.  On a related note, be sure to fully charge cell phones before driving to the launch site.

Be familiar with your GPS equipment. Know how to use your handheld GPS to save waypoints and plot a course to saved waypoints. Save your ground station location as a waypoint, and in the event that you must traverse terrain on foot to recover the balloon, save your vehicle location as a waypoint as well. This will aid you when you need to return to your vehicle. Also, know how to read the latitude/longitude data, and change the units if necessary. Do not rely on any single system for navigation: always have a backup available, and make sure someone not on the chase team knows what direction you are heading.

Know where restricted and hazardous areas are: Do not launch near restricted airspace, and check wind conditions to make sure the balloon will not drift into any restricted airspace. When running launch simulations, choose a launch site which minimizes the chance that the balloon will land in restricted or hazardous areas. If adequate safety margins cannot be assured, postpone the launch to a later date. Never traverse through hazardous terrain: it is better to loose equipment than to risk team safety, especially in remote areas.

Be sure your heaters will function in a low pressure environment: The hand heaters generally used for keeping hands warm during winter activities are very useful for warming payload boxes. However, many of the hand heaters available at sporting goods stores require the presence of air to sustain the chemical reactions which produce heat. In the near-space environment, these heaters will not have enough air available to generate heat. Be sure to purchase chemical hand heaters which can function in the absence of air.