Welcome …

May 2009

26 May : Did duration test on on camera. 8 pics and 2min video every 5 mins = 8 hrs

Sorting out payload cut-down using smokeless powder Alliant 2330  (Nitro Cellulose based).

24 May : Did a successful launch with Steve Randall (AKA Rocket Boy). Testing the new distributed listener client. Things to do before next launch.

• Fix erroneous data using some logic checks.
• Make a magmount for the G3 antenna.
• Add an additional balloon chute to keep waste away.

12 May : Only spent an hour on Icarus tonight! Added the external temperature sensor to the flight computer. Reduced the GPS antenna cable from 5m to about 30cm to allow it to fit cleanly to the top of the paylaod.

Outstanding jobs to do before launch

• Secure TX antenna to prevent pulling on the connector attached the PCB board
• Make 1/4 wave GP antenna DONE
• Duration test (camera and payload)
• Construct string cradle for payload
• Flip the pins in the code to get the correct temp. sensors.DONE

7 May : Knocked up a 1Hz oscillator connected to a transmitter to act as a location beacon for the next launch. This will be placed in a container with it’s own power source enclosed. If there is a system failure with the main board then the payload may still be recovered using fox hunting practices.

5 May : Toasted my second Lassen iQ today due to a mono filament of wire shorting between VCC and 3.3v track sending 6v into the iQ. It smoked a little and smells horrible! Replace iQ and the rest of the system seems to be working just fine. Typical! How unlucky can you be! Will get some balsa wood to go on the back of the PCB to prevent this happening again. Perhaps SMD components would have prevented this.

4 May :  Finally the PCB’s arrive from Olimex. They look really nice and will take the pain out of soldering up the boards. It took me ony two hours to solder and test everything rather than the whole day it took me before. The finished article can be seen below.

April 2009

PCB Development

21 Apr:  Contacted Lynn News, the local Kings Lynn paper, to put a reward out of one hundred pounds for the safe return of the payload. A couple of responses one of which sounded very promising. Unfortunately nothing came of the lead. Will go and investigate a field on next trip to Cambridge. In future there will be a letter enclosed in the payload explaining the project and offering a reward for safe return.

12 Apr : Launch 2 of Icarus II – Disaster … Payload lost somewhere South of Kings Lynn see launch history for further details.

February 2009

Initial two way communications setup

Slim Jim antennas

January 2009

UK High Altitude Society have set up a competition for two way communication with the payload. Seve Randall (aka RocketBoy) and I have set up a team to compete for this. Current thinking is using a pair of modules from Radiometrix 100mW on 169.4MHz.

3 Jan: Launch Icarus II for more information see here .

31 Jan: Passed my intermediate licence for HAM radio new callsign 2E0RJH. The next step is to get the Advanced licence which I plan to take in June 2009. The next exam is in April but I think that it’s a little optimistic to have learnt the syllabus by then, especially with the work needing to be done on Icarus.

December 2008

Icarus II

Temperature Sensor

RTTY

Lassen IQ

November 2008

1 Nov Passed my amateur radio foundation licence M6RJH

Icarus II

October 2008

Icarus I Launch

Ordered two more parachutes from Spherachute.

Found new supplier for Totex balloons in Belgium. Radar reflectors.

25 September 2008

Radio test