Pico Balloons
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Construction. Launching, and Monitoring of Pico Balloons
Brian, N6CVO, and Jed, N6JED have successfully launched several Pico Balloons over the last few years. Through Amateur Radio you can track the progress of the balloons and watch how they travel around the globe. In 2022, Tom, WA2IVD, provided this video of a launch at the Quartzfest event in Arizona.
At Quartzfest 2024, Brian, N6CVO, and Jed, N6JED, launched three pico balloons during the course of the event. All three are transmitting location data on WSPRnet and can be tracked on a number of websites.
Quartzfest third pico-balloon launch on day 6. Video courtesy of K7AGE.
Current Balloons Flying
KJ6CPU, 10m, CH412, WSPR
- Launched 24-Jan-2024, Quartsite Arizona USA
- Yokohama Balloon with hydrogen lifting gas.
- Traquito Jetpack tracker
- PowerFilm 4.8-150 set at a 45-degree angle to the horizon. 12" long carbon fiber rod with neodymium magnet to point panels towards the south like a compass.
- TL431A shunt regulator added to the Jetpack board to limit voltage to 5.0v
- Spun slowly upon ascent but must have stabilized at altitude where it started reporting in on WSPR.
N6JED, 10m, CH419, WSPR
- Launched 24-Jan-2024, Quartsite Arizona USA
- Yokohama Balloon with hydrogen lifting gas.
- Traquito Jetpack tracker.
- Two folded PowerFilm 4.8-150's arranged in a square. Looks like a cube-sat.
- No diode isolation (tested and no drain from panels that are not in full sunlight).
- TL431A shunt regulator added to the Jetpack board to limit voltage to 5.0v
- Started reporting in as soon as it got a little altitude even with the sun low on the horizon.
N6CVO, 20m, CH388
- Launched 26-Jan-2024, Quartsite Arizona USA
- Yokohama balloon, U4B Tracker, low power startup program.
- PowerFilm 4.8-75 set horizontal with a 5.0v shunt regulator.
- Full 20m dipole from 0.006" piano wire
- Good launch but payload spun excessively upon ascent and may have tangled up as spots are very sporadic.
Gallery
