2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

Location Tracking from High Altitude

With the increase in developing aerospace technology there is also a higher demand for aerospace programs at the academic level. High altitude balloons are an attractive tool to test and help develop these new technologies due to the potential of less cost and complexity of other test vehicles. For high altitude ballooning to be feasible to academia, the projects must fit size and weight constraints to avoid expensive components such as larger balloons, amounts of helium/hydrogen support, and requirements put forth by the FAA which can require the use of a transponder. If a smaller lighter payload can be used without a transponder but still provide air traffic control location information, high altitude ballooning programs would be more attainable by universities while not affecting the safety of air traffic. Our project aims to demonstrate the possibility for a balloon to provide dependable, near real time location information while remaining small, lightweight, and affordable. The balloon payload will utilize GPS, the Iridium Satellite Network, and the internet to make this goal a reality. Observers will have access to balloon location information through a mapping application and web server. The system will be tested and demonstrated during a total solar eclipse taking place in August of 2017. During the eclipse there will be 60+ high altitude balloons implementing our system that will be used by several air traffic control centers across North America. We can make high altitude ballooning a reality for more academic programs.