iHAB-8 Launch Announcement

[W0OTM]

iHAB-8 Launch Announcement

The iHAB Team is excited to announce iHAB-8 is scheduled to launch October 27, 2012 at 16:00Z (11AM CDT). The iHAB Team as well as other High Altitude Balloon fans have had a challenging year trying to launch balloons due to the global helium shortage. You can read more about the shortage here HERE. We were fortunate to obtain enough helium to complete one launch in 2012, and iHAB-8 is that launch!

The iHAB Team is excited to fly another "FUN" payload. Including a new "micro" 20 Meter QRP CW beacon designed and built by Dave Cripe - NM0S, Hi-Def Video, and time-lapse photography. The CW beacon controller is a new version (not yet available for purchase) of the EZKeyer from 4SQRP. The EZKeyer v2 has expanded memories, AND beacon mode!
The other exciting mission to this launch, and the reason we are calling is "X" Marks the Spot is because we are going about this launch a bit backwards to what we have done thus far. For an added twist of difficulty, we have preselected our desired LANDING location, and will be calculating out LAUNCH location based on continued calculated predictions right up until we launch. We have chosen the Ottumwa Industrial Airport - KOTM as our "X". This will challenge our Propulsion Team to hit their mark!
Visit http://www.ihabproject.com/iHAB-8/

for updated Flight News, and Launch Information.

=== The launch of iHAB-8 will be webcast LIVE starting at/around 10:30AM CDT, so please plan to visit Mission Control. ===

http://www.ihabproject.com/Tracker/?...sion_id=iHAB-8
You can also follow W0OTM on Twitter!
FlightComm:

• KBØVXL - Oskaloosa, IA
  
  145.490 MHz +, 146.2 Hz CTCSS
  Echolink Node : NONE

Telemetry & Tracking:

• Live! Tracker -> HERE
  
  
• APRS (legacy)
  
  Balloon Telemetry-> HERE
  Chase Vehicle Telemetry-> HERE
  Both Telemetry-> HERE

Propulsion

600g He
Payload #1:

APRS - WØOTM-11
144.39Mhz
OpenTracker+
Alinco DJ-C7 - VHF/UHF 3ØØ/5ØØmw
2ØM QRP Beacon
1.5 Watts
14.057.85 +/- Mhz
designed/built by Dave Cripe NM0S
"W0OTM iHAB-8 Iowa High Altitude Balloon Project"
AAØZZ EZKeyer (with v2 Chip)

GoPro® HD HERO
1080p HD video


Keep Looking Up!
Marshall Dias - W0OTM

[VA2SG]

Very cool, will listen.

[W0OTM]

iHAB-8 Launch - Flight Update

Target Launch:	2012-10-27 16:00:00 GMT
0 days, 13 hours, 15 minutes, 7 seconds

As of 10/26/2012 0245Z we "Go" for launch at 1600Z. Flight weather briefing is complete and NOTAM has been filed. Weather looks COLD, but DRY! Live audio is being steamed to the Mission Control Live! Tracker -> HERE.

Latest Predictions:

http://www.ihabproject.com/iHAB-8/La...n_10262012.png
http://www.ihabproject.com/iHAB-8/La...H_10262012.png

Visit http://www.ihabproject.com/iHAB-8/ for updated Flight News, and Launch Information.


You can also follow W0OTM on Twitter!


Keep Looking Up!
Marshall Dias - W0OTM

[W0OTM]

iHAB-8 "X" Marks the Spot

Saturday - Oct 27, 2Ø12
Launched: 15:4ØZ - 1040AM CDT

We launched iHAB-8 at 10:40am CST (1540Z) from a farm field off of County Road J22/Popcorn Rd in Humeston, IA. The iHAB Team was very confident in our launch location that we would land on the predetermined "X", at the Ottumwa Regional Airport. Shortly after the Propulsion Team began filling, we discovered that the helium tank which had been in storage since Spring 2012, was not fully pressurized. We required 124cu/ft of Helium to reach the desired 993ft/min ascent rate, but only had 75cu/ft. It was decided by the iHAB Team to move forward with the launch, knowing that we would NOT be successful at hitting our landing "X".

iHAB-8 staying aloft for 4 Hours - 2min, reaching a maximum burst altitude of 89,145ft and traveling 126.83 miles (204.11km, 110.21NM) down range. iHAB-8 landed in a grassy field at 3855 Oasis Rd SE in West Branch, IA. Recovery was quick & easy, since corn fields in the area had been previously harvested, the team was able to obtain a visual of the capsule on the ground from the road.
The 2ØM QRP Beacon was heard from coast to coast in North America. The 4SQRP AAØZZ EZKeyer v2 worked perfectly. User error caused the keyer to transmit "CQ CQ" repeatedly for the duration of the flight. (wonder how many people tried to answer) If you have signal reports please email them to me. Thanks to Dave Cripe for the build! We plan to fly this same radio again in iHAB-9.
A special thank you to to Paul Carwright (WA0PAC) - and PJ Cartwright (WA0PJC) for your help in Preflight activities, and iHAB-8 Launch!

Be sure to checkout the iHAB-8 website for updated photos and data analysis.
http://www.ihabproject.com/iHAB-8/


The iHAB-8 Launch Video is also available on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=meUBN9b9ers


Thanks again for everyone to followed, and as always,


Keep Looking Up

Marshall Dias
W0OTM