Manchester Meteor - High Altitude Balloon

Ian

Ian

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We're going to have an exciting article in the coming weeks, as PC Review ventures in to space... Sometime in mid/end September (weather permitting), we'll be launching a high altitude balloon with a video & tracking payload which will relay live position and video data to our ground station (a laptop and car!) along with recoverable HD video from the flight.

I'm working on this project with a university friend, Dr Jonathan Chippindall. You can read his blog here, where he will discuss the use of STEM projects to encourage youngsters to participate in similar projects and become more involved in science/technology. On PCR, we'll have a project log detailing some of the basic engineering and technology involved in this sort of project. The first launch of the "Manchester Meteor" uses off the shelf components so that we can trial the launch procedure before building more customised payloads.

We're hoping to get some video footage of the balloon ascent (~2 hours) and the slightly faster descent (~30 mins). If all goes to plan, the balloon will reach around 100,000 ft and will send back some fantastic pictures of the curvature of the earth, something similar to this:


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The payload, parachute, balloon and supplies are all ready, we're just waiting on CAA permission to launch. Keep your eyes peeled!​

We'll also be launching mini astronauts in to space, as it's unlikely that we'll be able to make the trip ourselves any time soon:​

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If you've got any questions or comments, just sign-up and post a reply to this thread (it takes a few seconds and we won't spam you!).​
 

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Yeah remember watching the Gadget shows version where they launched different cams to see how they all performed at altitude..

Hope it all goes to plan Ian..:nod:
 
Thanks guys :). I'll have a watch of the gadget show launch - as it happens we're using the GoPro 2 in this project too.
 
:bow: Oh great stuff, this will fire up the imaginations of the children, the future scientists of this country. The Register has a a similar project called Lohan but this is more exciting as this has included children in the project.
 
This sounds like a tremendously exciting and interesting project.

Please sir, I have a question.... Can I ask which gas the balloon will be filled with? Also, what size it will be, when still at ground level?

Meanwhile, wishing you and your colleague every success. :thumb:
 
Looks good :) Looking forward to reports from up there...

Gotta think of a song, uh, nope, not 'Up up and away' by the 5th Dimension, too cheesy, erm - got it!

Flying High by The Commodores. That'll do :)

Ground control to Major Tom....
 
Thanks everyone!

Great Video Mucks - what a lucky guy :thumb:.

Taffycat said:
Please sir, I have a question.... Can I ask which gas the balloon will be filled with? Also, what size it will be, when still at ground level?

Meanwhile, wishing you and your colleague every success. :thumb:
Click to expand...

Thanks TC :D. We're using helium and the balloon will be about 1.5m in diameter when it's at ground level, then just under 7m when we estimate that it will burst.

EvanDavis said:
Do our mini astronauts have names ?
Click to expand...

Yep, Ian and Chip ;).
 
All the best for your project, Ian.

Hope all goes to plan. :)
 
feckit said:
I thought the lego people were Mr & Mrs C?:lol:
Click to expand...

Nope, they represent Ian and Dr Chip! :lol:

I helped out this week by taking the unit to a random location so that they could check how well the tracking worked by trying to find me. I suppose it was a bit like fox hunting but without the fox, horses or dogs :thumb:
 
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