Well its been a while since the last time we gave a status update on the CrawSat 3 development, formerly called Balloon 3, and i’m pretty excited to say we’ve made a lot of progress!

First off, after many long hours in the lab (and some very stressful late nights), I can happily say the code integration is finally showing some great progress. Currently our code is capable of the following:

- displaying gps data (coordinates, altitude, time, and number of satellites connected)
- real time clock (used to keep a running tally on the duration of the flight)
- watch dog time (incase something begins locking up power can be reset, hopefully it won’t be needed!)
- displaying internal and external temperatures to the balloon package
- giving pressure readings
- giving voltage readings on our batteries.
- three cameras able to take up to 20 photos per camera by command from ground (indivisually and all together)
- comm able to transmit successful beacons to ground and receive commands to set a new interval for the beacon to be sent down (choices being 15, 10 and 5 seconds)

(Photo of Ethan working on the camera code)

We’re still working on the integration of a current reading from the onboard fuel gauge, sending commands from ground to trigger a cut down mechanism and another to toggle a siren, and final testing of the cameras. Hoping to get that going soon.

Secondly the structure that will house the electronics is pretty much ready for flight day, minus the final sealing. Below are some photos of the structure:

The structure before being populated,

and after of the entire package. On top you can see a siren and switch to power the electronics.

A close up on our power switch, i’m actually pretty excited that theres a cover for the switch, kind of like in those movies where theres a switch or button behind a glass box.

Close up on the siren mounted on the top of the structure.

View of the inside. Pictured: a placeholder board while the actual board is being used for testing, two of the three cameras secured in their slots aimed out holes fashioned on the side of the box sealed by Plexiglas.

One of the battery holders inside the box.

and here we have the board itself, with the gps unit on the side.

The three cameras outside being tested during the integration process, photos from the test below:

this is a photo we took of one of the CAPE-1 models in the lab from one of the cameras during testing.

Another photo of Casey one of the coders of the GPS subsystem.

and one more of myself, and Chase in the background.

The next photo is actually a compilation of 9 or 10 photos taken by a camera inside the structure to test how the photos looked from behind Plexiglas as the box slowly fell from the table….don’t worry everything is still ok. Nothing broke!

the quality of the photos behind the Plexiglas doesn’t seem too bad.

After this is all done, we’ll be entering an intensive testing period to ensure everything works fine. Launch Date hasn’t been decided yet, as a time table for the testing period hasn’t been determined just yet. So keep an eye out for an update with a launch date and more updates!

Recently CAPE members were interviewed by students studying broadcasting, in front of a camera, and had their segment air on the Acadiana Open Channel. Video below:

Here are a few videos from the balloon launch. The first two are from the launch and the second two are from just before recovery.

Oh, did I mention we have a ULCape Youtube Channel? Stay tuned for more video and pictures from the launch.

After weeks of long and hard work by Balloon 2, and support from the CAPE team, and many stressful hours of late night work, Balloon 2, Crawsat I, was launched today, January 31st, 2009, from Lake Charles. Launch Photos Below:

The Balloon was released at approximately 8:34 AM, with a course towards Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Below is the course of the final descent, and landing into the Mississippi River (of all places in the area!), after the cut down mechanism was initiated.

After an hour of scanning the river attempting a sighting, we finally got a visual near Sunshine Bridge (great name! ), and were able to get the payload back after recieving help from small boat near by. Photos of Recovery below:

The Balloon was recovered at approximately 12:35PM. We will be posting more photos of the launch, and videos of the launch and recovery in the coming days, so be on the look out for more posts from myself and other people with videos and photos.

Once again, I’d like to thank all the members of the Launch, Tracking, and Recovery teams, and those that took time out to track the Balloon alongside us from their respective homes and offices, your support was invaluable in making this operation all the more successful. Also special thanks to our friends Jim and Damon from LSU, who helped us get a barge to go to the center of the river to recover our payload package, and the National Weather Service, and Jimmy Nunn, the Hydrometeorological Technician, who helped set up the balloon for launch.

Also one more thank you is in order, for the Balloon 2 team as a whole, along with the other members of CAPE involved in the work leading up to today. Without your hard work, and dedication, late at night and all weekend, over the last month, we would never have had such a successful mission!

P.S: Balloon 3, now it’s our turn to get to work!