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The LaACES Launch Trip

The LaACES Launch Trip. Ballooning Unit, Lecture 6. Launch Trip Overview & Schedule. 3 ½ days of activities at the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) in Palestine, Texas

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The LaACES Launch Trip

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  1. The LaACES Launch Trip Ballooning Unit, Lecture 6 Launch Trip

  2. Launch Trip Overview & Schedule • 3 ½ days of activities at the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) in Palestine, Texas • Including FRR, vehicle integration, pre-launch prep, flight operations, data analysis, flight results presentations and tours • Scheduled for “turn-around”: May 22 through May 25, 2006 Launch Trip

  3. Travel to NSBF • Plan travel in order to arrive on the afternoon of Launch – 2 days Trip takes ~6 hours, non-stop, from Baton Rouge ACES-01 group on “Tiny Tim” at NSBF during May, 2003 • Recommend staying at the either the Best Western or Super 8 in Palestine, TX near the intersection of Rts 79 & 256 • Block of rooms available at Best Western, slightly cheaper at Super 8. Travel on May 21, 2006 Launch Trip

  4. Routes to Palestine, Texas Launch Trip

  5. CSBF is located outside Palestine Launch Trip

  6. Day 1 (Launch – 24 hours) • Begin at 8 am with the team FRR presentations • Allow about 35 to 40 minutes for presentation and 20 to 25 minutes for answering questions • Likely that CSBF personnel will attend and may ask questions! • After lunch we will have an hour briefing to discuss weather & detailed plans for the launch • Following the briefing we will have a short tour of the NSBF facility • Return to hanger and setup for pre-launch payload checkout • During the evening we will do the final vehicle integration The balloon payload assembly hanger at NSBF Launch Trip

  7. Day 2 (Launch – 2 hours) • Arrive at hanger at ~5:30 am to proceed with launch preparation • Complete final instrument calibrations or materials prep • Pack vehicles for flight chase & recovery • Check of tracking GPS radio beacons • Pack balloon vehicle with flight payloads attached • Pack flight line equipment • Arrive at flight line at ~6:30 am • Lay out ACES vehicle • Configure payloads for launch Final checkout of ACES-01 payloads on flightline Launch Trip

  8. Day 2 (Launch – 45 minutes) • At about 6:45 am we do a final weather check • NSBF releases weather balloon to measure winds up to 1000 feet • Flight line weather briefing determines if we launch • At about 7:00 am the sounding balloon is unpacked and filling begins • NSBF notifies FAA about pending launch • By 7:10 am final checks of payload and radio beacons should be complete Final checkout of ACES-01 payloads on flightline Launch Trip

  9. Day 2 (Launch – 10 minutes) • At 7:15 am balloon fill has been completed • Balloon is secured to flight vehicle • All non-essential personnel clear the flight line • NSBF provides FAA with 5 minute warning of balloon launch • Flight vehicle is lifted to launch position • One person is assigned to lightly hold each flight vehicle component • Person on end is the “runner” • Launch! • Balloon is released and each person lets go of the component they are holding as the balloon begins to lift it up • The “runner” holds the end and runs in the direction the balloon is heading until the flight train is vertical Launch of the ACES-01 flight vehicle Launch Trip

  10. Day 2 (Launch + 10 minutes) • Flight Operations begin shortly after launch • The chase vehicles are packed and proceed to follow the payload via the closest roads • The GPS radio beacons on the vehicle provide real-time lat., long., and alt. • This information is received in the chase vehicles • Used to locate landing • Also relayed to FAA Launch Trip

  11. Day 2 (Launch + ~3 hours) • Flight can last between 2 and 3 hours • The descending payloads are tracked with the real-time GPS data • Chase vehicles are routed to the nearest landing site access Documenting the ACES-01 flight vehicle during recovery • Before entering private land, recovery team must obtain permission from owner • Payload is not touched until landing position is fully documented and designated lead for each payload is present Recovery of the LSU / SU StuMURD payload Launch Trip

  12. Day 2 (Launch + ~4 hours) • Following recovery we return to the NSBF • Payloads are unpacked and data is downloaded to analysis computers • Data analysis is focus for the remainder of the day • Calibrations should be ready to be applied • Analysis software should be ready and tested prior to flight • Goal is to obtain flight results in science units in time for presentations Analysis of the ACES-01 flight data begins Launch Trip

  13. Day 3 (Launch + 24 hours) • Morning is devoted to touring the Raven Balloon Plant • Site where all professional scientific balloon are made • This tour may be scrubbed for 2006 • Complete data analysis during afternoon • Prepare flight results presentations Students viewing a professional scientific balloon under construction Launch Trip

  14. Day 4 (Launch + 48 hours) • Begin at 8am with presentations of flight results from each flight team • Allow about 30 minutes for the presentation and about 10 minutes for questions • Very likely that NSBF personnel will attend presentations and ask questions • Strongly advise that your PowerPoint presentation be almost complete prior to the launch trip • “Drop in” results & interpretation following flight • Much in common with FRR presentation, but emphasizing the science goals, context, flight results and interpretation • Presentations should be over by noon so that return home trip can begin Launch Trip

  15. Contingency • Note that this schedule assumes a good launch weather on Tuesday. • In the event that we have a weather delay • Tour of the balloon plant will take place on Tuesday • Flight operations will occur on Wednesday • Data analysis will take place on Thursday • Science presentations will be scheduled for Friday morning • You need to take this contingency into account when making your travel plans. Launch Trip

  16. Publish your results • Results from your flight experiment can be published and we encourage you to do so • There are several venues that would accept student publications • Your campus’s Research Forum • Zone meetings of the Society of Physics Students • Meetings of the American Association of Physics Teachers • National meetings of the American Physical Society • Meeting of the Council for Undergraduate Research • Contact LaSPACE for advice on how to develop and publish your results Launch Trip

  17. References • http://www.ravenind.com/RavenCorporate/eng_films/high_alt_balloons_index.htm - Raven Industries, Inc. Sulphur Springs Balloon Plant • http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/ - Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) Launch Trip

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