Near Space Photos

[tstowe]

42 hours and counting...

Here is the current flight path:

[Dean_Fuller]

Could you post a image of the "capsule" that will house the cameras? I am curious about the temperature, pressure and other concerns at that altitude. FANTASTIC....I wish I was closer.

[tstowe]

I don't have a picture of the current one but it looks exactly like this one except it is shorter. This one is about 18 inches tall. The current one is about 12 inches tall. I'll photograph the new one tomorrow.

[tstowe]

Inside view:

[x_tan]

No air-conditioning ?

[tstowe]

Originally Posted by Dean_Fuller

Could you post a image of the "capsule" that will house the cameras? I am curious about the temperature, pressure and other concerns at that altitude. FANTASTIC....I wish I was closer.

The temperature can be as low as -60. One group measured -80. At 100,000 feet there is only 1% of the atmosphere at sea level. No protection from UV light or radiation. If a person was at that altitude and not in a pressure suit, their blood would boil from the pressure difference.

Since we don't send living things up with us our biggest concern is how the cold will affect the batteries. We use lithium and that helps but the cold drains the batteries much faster than normal.

Other than that, there's not too much else to worry about. Make sure everything is secured well, set up correctly and turned on.

I'm not unique in this. There are lots of groups around the country doing the exact same thing. If you really want to do it, start doing a little research and I'd be willing to bet you'll find someone fairly close.

Originally Posted by x_tan

No air-conditioning ?

Only on the deluxe model.

[S.Horton]

How do yo get the images? Do you get them via radio, or by recovering the unit?

[tstowe]

Originally Posted by S.Horton

How do yo get the images? Do you get them via radio, or by recovering the unit?

We have to recover the capsule.

[S.Horton]

Whoa. Pictures of that adventure would be a cool addition.

[tstowe]

Here is the new capsule.

The side view of the capsule showing the buzzer on the top, the camera on the side and antenna.


In the past we have had problems with too many pictures being taken on the ground. This time, we can load all the electronics and turn the camera and camcorder on last. Then quickly load them from the outside.


The underside of the lid showing MT-300 ham radio transmitter, the 9v for the buzzer and 9v lithium for transmitter. The GPS is inside the box with the transmitter.


The inside view of the capsule. You can see the SPOT Messenger on its gimbal and the external battery. The external battery lets the camcorder record in HD mode for four hours.

[Dean_Fuller]

That is amazing! Can you share any pics from past events as the balloon is descending??

Also...is there any insurance issues as far as possible damage done to something else ( power lines, homes, cars, street traffic in case it descends in a highway ).

WOW....I want to get involved with one like this. This thread is truly inspiring.

[Dean_Fuller]

What would it take ( if its even possible ) to get higher? Are you at the limits of a helium filled balloon?

[tstowe]

Originally Posted by Dean_Fuller

What would it take ( if its even possible ) to get higher? Are you at the limits of a helium filled balloon?

The size of the balloon. Different sized balloons are rated to burst at different altitudes. The larger the balloon, the higher it will go. But the larger the balloon, the more it costs and the more gas it takes to fill it. A 3,000g balloon is about as big as you can get without it getting SUPER expensive. The 3,000g balloons cost over $300 each. The gas to fill that balloon would be over $200. The current record is 140,000 feet.

[Dean_Fuller]

Thanks...can you respond to me insurance issues in post 26 ?

This is sounding manageable.

[tstowe]

Originally Posted by Dean_Fuller

That is amazing! Can you share any pics from past events as the balloon is descending??

Also...is there any insurance issues as far as possible damage done to something else ( power lines, homes, cars, street traffic in case it descends in a highway ).

WOW....I want to get involved with one like this. This thread is truly inspiring.

Photos from all the flights are online at www.TheTalon.SmugMug.com/misc/space.

It is a school sponsored field trip. I guess if there was damage the school would handle it. But I haven't really heard of any damage done to anything. Think about it, it is a Styrofoam container (a lot of people use shipping containers, like what Omaha Steaks are shipped in). Plus, they are light-weight (generally four pounds or less) and they aren't traveling that fast on the way down (somewhere around 15 mph). And there is also a VERY loud buzzer on the capsule. You can hear it from a quarter-mile away. I’d think a person would be able to hear it coming.