We have been invited to participate in a hackerspace space-blimp challenge. I'm attaching the pdf of information I received but in summary, we have to launch a blimp or weather balloon into near space, retrieve it, and submit the pictures. Official launches are to take place between June 1 and August 31, we can have up to 10 people on the team representing Squidwrench, and one of us shall participate in the Event Board to act as a judge.
Anybody interested? I'm sure we can find the expertise we need, so don't worry about what you can bring to the team. We should at least start researching if we think we'd like to do it.
Another by two students at Sheffield University in the UK.
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/mediacentre/2011/1834-video-earth-edge-space.html
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce//news.php?id=397
part 3 of the sparkfun HA Balloon
http://diydrones.com/xn/detail/705844:BlogPost:177070
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/05/from_hackerspace_to_outer_space...
NASA science balloon fail... at least we won't be out $2 million if ours fails.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20100429/sc_space/hugenasascienceballooncrashesinaustralianoutback
I heard back regarding balloons from one contact and received the following link: http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp?pn=3041755&cmss=weather+balloons $20 for 2 balloons isn't horrible, though puts it on par with the MIT group. Other balloons: http://www.scientificsales.com/Meteorological-Balloons-Weather-Balloons-Sounding-Balloon-s/25.htm http://www.buy.com/prod/balloon-36-weather-red/q/listingid/51270328/loc/64935/211964764.html
lol, Derp on my part, Different article about the same guy :)
DerrrrrrrP! http://www.nefastus.org
I read this just a little while ago, seems that a ton of people are doing this. It does sound pretty fun.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1260323/British-aerospace...
DerrrrrrrP! http://www.nefastus.org
Ok. We definitely have a lot to build from now. I'm going to make a planning discussion part of the agendae for next week.
Found this : http://gnews.com/science/Million-Dollar-NASA-Photos-Beaten-by-Budget-Balloon-632572225751.html
I forgot to mention this at the meeting, but maybe its time to get a team together and have this thing... I think its called 'plan'.
I think the ots solution would be good- unless we are willing to devote more time into this project.
http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/02/space-chair-highest-hd-commerical-ever-vi...
Spacechair!
That's spectacular. Even after I realized that the 'stars' in the photos were just dust on my monitor.
Do you think it will be best to go 100% ots components or would a completly custom solution be better?
This happened: http://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/b3ev6/a_few_months_ago_i_sent_a_weather_balloon_to_the/
As stated previously, I'm in.
I ordered 3 of these parachutes:
http://www.aeroconsystems.com/chutes/p48in.htm
If anyone has an appropriately tall building, I think we should have a "tossing stuff from high places to see if it breaks" party when they arrive.
Here is the website for the MIT group that did this project already- space.1337arts.com/ .
It was brought up at Thursday's squidwrench meeting that launching a balloon into near space may be subject to rules and regulations. This MIT site states that FAA regulations only apply to balloons with payloads over 4 pounds. Seeing as how our balloon should be under 4 pounds as per the rules, we might not have a problem. It would probably be wise to double check this regulation though. Also, would there be any local laws that apply to what we are doing?
EDIT: this guy did it too: www.natrium42.com/halo/flight2/
im in
AL will help!