For the past year I've been collaborating with a European consortium on a balloon platform high altitude instrument package that we are sending up during the eclipse. There have been lots of technical problems and we were not sure if we'd get CASA approval so we haven't announced it until now.
The package will comprise
Balloon : 1500 grams
Payload : 1500 grams
The payload will carry : -
Pressure sensor;
Pollution grade, UV / IR sensors;
External temperature
photos and the movie from the on-board cameras
real-time tracking radio transmitter
Catalin Beldea and the Romanian team have done all the heavy lifting developing the instrument & tracking package in Europe and conducting two test flights one reaching 29km the other 35km.
I'm providing logistical support here like locating radio amateurs to assist with APRS tracking, obtaining helium and getting the all important CASA and ATC approvals processed. The safety officer who has been assessing the application contacted me today to say he'd be sending me a letter tomorrow. I should get my CASA letter of approval & a list of conditions we have to meet tomorrow just as I leave Canberra to drive to Cairns.
You can see a picture taken by a simple smart phone programs to take interval pics during the first 35km test flight on Catalin's home page
http://www.astrofoto.ro/
The balloon will be launched 15 mins before sunrise on eclipse day. It will rise at 6m/s and reach 30-something km in 100 minutes. During totality it will be approximately 28km altitude. At this altitude, air pressure is approximately 1% of sea level. The balloon will burst at around 33km, free fall to 18km then deploy a parachute and fall at 6m/s.
It should come down in the vicinity of the Mulligan Highway. If you see it come down and the recovery team doesn't arrive, please record its position accurately and let me know. My mobile number is on the web site.
http://joe-cali.com/eclipses.
Good luck and clear skies to all.
Have a great eclipse.
Joe
