Objectives For This First Flight Have Been Met:

1. High Quality Near Space Photos - Blackness of Space with the Blue Earth Below

2. Slow Motion Balloon Burst - Recorded with a 120 fps GoPro Camera (1:52)

3. Launch to Landing Video (4:49)



4. A Photo Collection Summarizing the Flight from Start to Finish

The University uses a website to predict where the balloon will travel based on near-live weather data.  Here is the forecasted  balloon path and the actual balloon path as reported via live GPS coordinates transmitted from the balloon by HAM radio transmitter.

Success!

Our first ballon launch and recovery lasted about 1.5 hours and traveled to an altitude of ~89,200 feet.
Many Pictures and a few videos to follow in coming days.

Well July 4th has come and gone but our launch date is quickly approaching.  Our payload box has been built and test fitted with all four GoPro cameras.  Now we are just waiting for a launch date.  When we find out, we will run through a dress rehearsal of turning on all the cameras, followed by making sure all the cameras record what was expected of each one.

The decision has been made to fly 4 GoPro cameras on the initial flight
The final two GoPro's have now been ordered and construction of the payload box will begin this weekend
Two cameras will be facing out and programed to take still photos at x second intervals
One camera will be facing up and record video at 120 fps to capture the balloon burst
The last camera will be facing down and recording video at a normal 30 fps
The new target fly date is before July 4th to minimize corn height to only knee high

We attended the U of M balloon launch, track and landing today.
What an absolute perfect day, we and they thought.  Perfect blue sky, close to zero wind for filling the 2 balloons and launching.  The first balloon took flight at around 10:35 AM from Amboy, MN and landed about 60 miles away, 15 miles east of Owatonna, MN.  We had the privilege to use a radio and computer to track the flight as we drove under it to the landing.  The first balloon reached 107,000+ feet (20+ miles up) and traveled at times up to 108 MPH.   The second balloon landed within a mile away.  Pretty impressive to think they could go so high, travel so fast, and yet land so close to each other.

Launch Video (1:22)

Additional Photos

Additional information from the U
     ...two balloons to be launched on April 14.  Starting at 7 AM, Launch at 10:00 AM

Your Space Team plans on attending for as much of the day as possible to learn, learn, learn

We hear back from the U of M with great news about there upcoming flight schedule
     ...the next 3 weeks will be busy for them, as they are flying 10 payloads...

Mike C provides details about where to purchase a spherical shaped capsule made from SmothFoam(TM)  www.plasteelcorp.com

The second meeting of HAB-FAP Team Members
Review project plan details

John shows off the new GoPro Hero2 camera with the many features that make it ideal

Takeaways:
Report back to the group with progress by 4/3 (one week)

Reach out to University of Minnesota (U of M) balloon team for info (blog, arrange a meeting)
Research balloon options
Research Spot GPS options, make purchasing recommendation
Create a site on the Hub once we are up and running

Research hydrogen/helium options, find someone who will sell us a tank of go-go gas
Figure out image correction in Photoshop CS6 for using GoPro cameras as both video and still cameras
Research requirements for added electronics for subsequent flights (ham license, real-time down-link, etc.)

Build blog or website for documenting the project
Reach out to Mike C from the rocket club to find out where he bought the styrofoam sphere for his flying spider

Research FAA rules, and determine our need for a radar reflector. When do we need to fly one?
Research insurance requirements/options/costs. If needed: Does any of our current insurance cover us? How much for a policy to cover each flight?

Team:
Corporate sponsorship?

The first meeting of HAB-FAP Team Members
Jon, John, Brian, Chris
Review initial project plan
Target timeline to first balloon launch set
Budget for balloon launch set with expectations of reusing electronics and cameras

Takeaways:
Continue to identify additional resources for a successful first launch