iHAB-4 Launch Announcement

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The iHAB Team is excited to announce the next launch of the iHAB Project! iHAB-4 is scheduled to launch April 30, 2011 at 15:00Z (10AM CDT) from the Green Castle Aero Club in Oxford, Iowa. Preflight will begin at 14:00Z (9AM CDT). This launch is open to the public and everyone is invited.

iHAB-4 is being sponsored by Marion Homeschool Assistance Program. - http://mhsap.marion-isd.org/

“The MHSAP’s Mission is to support and assist parents in their chosen role as the primary educators of their children. To that end they offer a variety of services to help you accomplish this very challenging and rewarding task. The MHSAP serves homeschooling students who are enrolled in the MHSAP, offered through the Marion Independent School District. Homeschooled students from surrounding areas may enroll into the Marion District through a process referred to as open enrollment.“

You can read more about the Marion Homeschool Assistance Program at http://mhsap.marion-isd.org/

Visit http://www.ihabproject.com/iHAB-4/ for updated Flight News, and Launch Information.

Be sure to participate in the interactive “Mission Control” site. For those who wish to follow the iHAB-4 Launch LIVE! The launch of i-HAB4 will be webcast, and will begin around 9AM.

http://www.ihabproject.com/iHAB-4/MissionControl

Launch Details:

Saturday - April 30, 2011 (May 7th Rain Date)
Preflight: 1400Z - 9AM CST
Launch: 1500Z - 10AM CST
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Green Castle Aero Club in Oxford, Iowa - www.greencastleaeroclub.com

CURRENT FLIGHT STATUS

=== GO ===
Updated: Tue Apr 26 10:50:02 CDT 2011
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<big>iHAB-4 - Mission Goals</big>

• Sponsored by: Marion Homeschool Assistance Program
• This demonstrations will expose students to various aspects of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in a fun and interactive setting. Topics relating to this event include, earth science, weather, geography, physics, mathematics, and engineering.
• Obtain high altitude imagery of Near Space
• DTMF Payload Cutdown Module - View Test
  Ground based control station will cut the balloon free from the payload before reaching burst altitude. This will initiate a controlled decscent.
• Demonstrate control of HF beacon from a ground based station.
  20m HF beacon (14.059mhz) will turn ON at the top of each hour, and be remotely shutoff from 55-59min after each hour. The beacon will continue this cycle until LOS.
  Example:
  ON - 15:ØØZ though 15:55Z
  OFF - 15:55-15:59Z
  ON - 16:ØØZ though 16:55Z
  OFF - 16:55-16:59Z
  ect...continued until LOS
• Operate VHF simplex repeater.
  147.5ØØmhz PL 1ØØ.ØØ
  Repeater will record up to 3Øsec of uplink audio, then rebroadcast.
  NOTE: Controller is VOX controlled. It is anticipated that uplink transmissions may get clipped, so be prepared to begin each transmission with the word "check" to ensure your call is completely heard. BE PATIENT. This is a "Parrot Repeater" so each transmission is transmitted twice. (uplink then rebroadcast) BE PATIENT and courteous to stations trying to work the payload.

FlightComm:

• WØJV - Iowa City, IA
  146.850- WØJV
• KDØMVJ - Iowa City, IA
  145.290- PL: 192.8

Propulsion

600g He
Payload #1:

APRS - WØOTM-4
144.39Mhz
OpenTracker+
Alinco DJ-C7 - VHF/UHF 3ØØ/5ØØmw

2ØM QRP Beacon
14.Ø59.Ø Mhz
"W0OTM iHAB-4 High Alt Balloon"
* See beacon schedule
Homebrew ~ 1.6W
(Thank you WAØITP for the build!)
AAØZZ EZKeyer

DTMF Decoder with CutDown Module
Payload #2:

VHF Parrot Simplex Repeater
147.5Ømhz PL 1ØØ.ØØ

Canon PowerShot A480
Shots every 10sec - 8GB SDCARD

<small><small> <big> Keep Looking Up!
iHAB Team</big> </small></small>

 

iHAB-4 Launch Complete

iHAB-4 launch was completed, and the website has been updated with post launch analysis.

http://www.ihabproject.com/iHAB-4/

Thanks for following, and look forward to iHAB-5