CUSF LANDING PREDICTOR
When you open the Predictor page, you will find that the map opens with it positioned over England. You will need to zoom out, move the map over to your intended Launch Location. .. then you can run your predictions.
Here are the variables to plug into the Predictor:
LAUNCH ALTITUDE: 33
LAUNCH TIME -- 15:00 (which would be 10AM local, but the predictor requires UTC time)
LAUNCH DATE -- Whatever date that you would like to launch
ASCENT RATE: 3.14 (in meters per second)
BURST ALTITUDE: 32030 (in meters... roughly 105,000 feet)
DESCENT RATE: 5 meters per second
Click the Link below to open the Predictor in a New Window:
http://predict.habhub.org/#!/uuid=8bee84452c77f5ef206d600d7a240434dfd0ef9f
Note --- The Map on the Predictor may show the message, "For Development Purposes Only." Regardless of this message, you will still be able to scroll/zoom on the Map and use the Predictor as usual.
If you want to play with the numbers to determine the different altitudes you can get different payloads to achieve, etc, you can do so at High Altitude Science's Balloon Performance Calculator page, linked below.
Start with these variables, but then feel free to "mix it up" by trying different balloon sizes, different amounts of helium lift, etc., to learn more about what is possible! Start with these variables:
BALLOON SIZE: 1200 (grams)
PAYLOAD WEIGHT: 1587 (in grams, about 3.5 pounds)
POSITIVE LIFT: 400 (grams)
Click this Link to begin:
10-DAY JET STREAM FORECAST
Use this Link to scan ahead over the coming days and see Forecast Predictions for Jet Stream Velocity and Direction. Hover over the Day below the map to see each day's prediction, out to 10 Days in the future.
http://www.weatherstreet.com/states/gfsx-300-forecast.htm
An interesting Article that discusses how the Jet Stream dips Southward during winter months:
If you'd like to look back over the Syllabus we discussed in class, here is a link to that PDF file:
INTRO TO WEATHER BALLOONS
https://www.highaltitudescience.com/pages/intro-to-weather-balloons
HELIUM
https://www.highaltitudescience.com/pages/helium
Note: The two pages below, Inflating a Weather Balloon, and Tying Off a Weather Balloon, are very helpful as a Checklist at the Launch Site to assist you with one of the most critical --and easiest to botch-- phases of the whole Launch Operation, preparing the actual balloon itself for launch. The Launch Site can be unforgiving, with you dealing with the outdoor elements, rugged/unlevel terrain, brush/vegetation at the launch site which can puncture the balloon, etc. Following these 2 pages will help alleviate the risks of failing to properly inflate, tie off, and protect the balloon and flight train.
Field Locations can have poor cellular coverage -- Here is a PDF version of the Balloon-Flight Train Checklist that you can download and save to your Laptop for field use:
Balloon-Flight Train Checklist
INFLATING A WEATHER BALLOON
https://www.highaltitudescience.com/pages/how-to-inflate-a-weather-balloon
TYING OFF A WEATHER BALLOON
https://www.highaltitudescience.com/pages/tying-off-a-weather-balloon
TRACKING A WEATHER BALLOON
https://www.highaltitudescience.com/pages/tracking-a-weather-balloon
LAUNCH MISSION PACKING LIST
https://uasllc.us/balloonlaunchpackinglist.pdf
PRE-LAUNCH CHECKLISTS
Recommended to download BOTH of these to your Laptop before traveling to Launch Site:
https://uasllc.us/prelaunchchecklist.pdf
Balloon-Flight Train Checklist
CADET FLIGHT PLAN OVERVIEW
https://uasllc.us/cadetflightplanoverview.pdf
ASTRONAUT ERIC BOE
https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/Boe_B6B6CC763A67E.pdf
A RECENT FLIGHT
A space balloon flight I did with my son a couple years back..
Caleb's balloon launch for his High School Senior Project, focused on Meteorology. Reached nearly 108,000 feet, temps as low as 81 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Entire flight was approximately 4 hours. The GoPro actually tilted downward during the stresses of re-entry, and after that point you can only see the edge of the aluminum arm holding his picture... the picture itself is then off-screen. Balloon was launched just east of Jena, travelled east to the Mississippi River, then as it rose it caught a westerly wind that blew it back west of Jonesville, and it landed just northwest of Jonesville.
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