Start Date
27-10-2017 4:15 PM
End Date
27-10-2017 4:30 PM
Abstract
On August 21, 2017, the path of totality of a solar eclipse swept across the continental United States from Oregon to South Carolina. Our team, flying weather balloons near Grand Island, Nebraska, was able to live stream the shadow of the moon from the stratosphere to the ground. The team was able to track our balloons with high accuracy due to new payload software and hardware implemented on the still image telemetry platform developed by the Montana Space Grant. In addition, the modified system allowed the team to relay commands and receive information from individual payloads attached to our balloons, giving live telemetry and control from a new GUI-based ground station control application. Although the eclipse is now over, the system will still be a powerful and useful tool for the University of Minnesota stratospheric ballooning team. The platform could be used for any other application needing real-time, ground-based communication to various payloads on a balloon gondola.
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Modifications to the Montana State University Telemetry System for Stratospheric Eclipse Ballooning
On August 21, 2017, the path of totality of a solar eclipse swept across the continental United States from Oregon to South Carolina. Our team, flying weather balloons near Grand Island, Nebraska, was able to live stream the shadow of the moon from the stratosphere to the ground. The team was able to track our balloons with high accuracy due to new payload software and hardware implemented on the still image telemetry platform developed by the Montana Space Grant. In addition, the modified system allowed the team to relay commands and receive information from individual payloads attached to our balloons, giving live telemetry and control from a new GUI-based ground station control application. Although the eclipse is now over, the system will still be a powerful and useful tool for the University of Minnesota stratospheric ballooning team. The platform could be used for any other application needing real-time, ground-based communication to various payloads on a balloon gondola.