Final Flight
CCP were eager to try another lunch and have the launch placed were they could take out their staff and form a large CCP logo. However, wind direction on the launch day made this impossible. The launch took place on Wednesday 10. may at 12:27. The weather conditions were ideal that day for a launch with less than 3 m/s winds, a clear sky and sunshine.
Trajectory
To estimate the flight length and time the HabHub trajectory model was used. Due to the winds at the time of launch heading due south, the forecast predicted a landing site on the Reykjanes peninsula. The high altitude winds winter ferocity had diminished and the balloon would supposedly only travel about 25 km.
To estimate the flight length and time the HabHub trajectory model was used. Due to the winds at the time of launch heading due south, the forecast predicted a landing site on the Reykjanes peninsula. The high altitude winds winter ferocity had diminished and the balloon would supposedly only travel about 25 km.
Launch preperation
The team was provided with a place near CCP, owned by the Icelandic Marine Research Institute. On the day before the launch, the team transported all the equipment to the this location and started the preperations for the launch. The payload was assembled and all devices were charged. In the following morning, the team assembled at CCP main office for breakfast and then headed out to the launch site. Final preperations were made, where as the balloon was filled, all the electronic equipment was put in place, switched on and tested.
The team was provided with a place near CCP, owned by the Icelandic Marine Research Institute. On the day before the launch, the team transported all the equipment to the this location and started the preperations for the launch. The payload was assembled and all devices were charged. In the following morning, the team assembled at CCP main office for breakfast and then headed out to the launch site. Final preperations were made, where as the balloon was filled, all the electronic equipment was put in place, switched on and tested.
Authorization
The authorization for the flight was attained well in advance and without any problems. A slight change to the procedure where the final approval from air traffic control tower was attained was encountered. The tower requested the flights trajectory forecast and the estimated total flight time, and the estimated time for the balloon to clear 30.000 feet.
The authorization for the flight was attained well in advance and without any problems. A slight change to the procedure where the final approval from air traffic control tower was attained was encountered. The tower requested the flights trajectory forecast and the estimated total flight time, and the estimated time for the balloon to clear 30.000 feet.
Launch
The launch itself went as well as could have been hoped for. No problems arose and the balloon rose beautifully.
The launch itself went as well as could have been hoped for. No problems arose and the balloon rose beautifully.
Flight
The flight of the balloon was not as straightforward as in flight 2. At a point when the balloon was well clear of Reykjavík the lines tethering the model spaceship to the camera boom and and the equipment box broke. Afterwards when we inspected the payload it appears that the quick release connectors, connecting the fishing lines to their respective tie points, in conjunction with the violent shaking experienced during the flight may have been the cause. Shortly after the the loss of the model the thrashing of the payload amplified and may have hit the balloon itself causing it to puncture and tear, resulting in a premature descent. The flight reached an altitude of around 20km.
The flight of the balloon was not as straightforward as in flight 2. At a point when the balloon was well clear of Reykjavík the lines tethering the model spaceship to the camera boom and and the equipment box broke. Afterwards when we inspected the payload it appears that the quick release connectors, connecting the fishing lines to their respective tie points, in conjunction with the violent shaking experienced during the flight may have been the cause. Shortly after the the loss of the model the thrashing of the payload amplified and may have hit the balloon itself causing it to puncture and tear, resulting in a premature descent. The flight reached an altitude of around 20km.
Landing
The Trackuino transmitted a signal up until the very end of the flight, the final location from the Trackuino was at an altitude of 717m. Using this information the team had an approximate landing site, which appeared to be in the middle of lake Kleifarvatn. The phone also sent signal for the duration of the flight and kept stream almost all the time. It stopped streaming just 2 minutes before landing of lack of coverage from the cell tower at the landing site.
The Trackuino transmitted a signal up until the very end of the flight, the final location from the Trackuino was at an altitude of 717m. Using this information the team had an approximate landing site, which appeared to be in the middle of lake Kleifarvatn. The phone also sent signal for the duration of the flight and kept stream almost all the time. It stopped streaming just 2 minutes before landing of lack of coverage from the cell tower at the landing site.
Recovery
A member of Iceland's Radio Amateur Association, Ari Jóhannesson (TF3ARI) was the first one to arrive at the landing site, he had been tracking the flight via APRS from his car during the flight. Shortly afterwards team member arrived by vehicles and then a CCP camera crew flew in on a helicopter to film the recovery. Although it landed in water, none of the equipment was damaged. The styrofoambox sealed everything inside from water and floated the payload. The GoPro's attached to the camera boom were submerged at landing, they are however contained in a waterproof housing.
A member of Iceland's Radio Amateur Association, Ari Jóhannesson (TF3ARI) was the first one to arrive at the landing site, he had been tracking the flight via APRS from his car during the flight. Shortly afterwards team member arrived by vehicles and then a CCP camera crew flew in on a helicopter to film the recovery. Although it landed in water, none of the equipment was damaged. The styrofoambox sealed everything inside from water and floated the payload. The GoPro's attached to the camera boom were submerged at landing, they are however contained in a waterproof housing.