[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] VWS-6 balloon launch scheduled for Saturday, 10 a.m.

[Ian]

Begin forwarded message:
From: Daniel Sullivan <djs13 at hotmail.com>
Date: February 15, 2008 10:25:44 AM EST

VWS 6 is again scheduled for launch tomorrow Saturday, 16 Feb 2008 at  
1000 hrs. Launch will be from Strasburg, VA and right now models  
suggest a landing somewhere along the Potomac between Bethesda, VA and  
McLean, VA close to the American Legion Bridge. THESE MODELS CHANGE  
WITH EACH WIND SOUNDING SO CHECK HERE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION:
http://www.viennawireless.org/balloon/vws-6/models.html 
  So those in MD please warn the border patrol that the airborne  
objects are not the precursor to invasion! HI HI!

VWS-6 will have two active beacons aboard using APRS. One will be a  
300mw Byonics Microtracker that will beacon at about 300MW as  
K4HTA-11. The other will be a BigRedBee 433.92 MHz tracker that will  
beacon at about 16mw as K4XY-11. It is intended the 2m beacon should  
be able to be seen via FINDU.COM searching on K4HTA-11 once the flight  
is initiated.

One of the special aspects of the launch will be a payload from the  
Algonquin Elementary School Near Space Explorers of Sterling, VA. This  
group of budding young space scientists is studying the effects of  
high altitude flight on plant seeds. These seeds will be in packets in  
various parts of the payload container. Seeds will be spread between a  
warm area near the transmitters; a cool area in the payload container  
but not kept warm, and one taped to the outside of the payload  
container exposed to the elements and to the solar radiation of high  
altitude.

Kerry, WA4BQM, has already begun sending out bulletins on APRS over  
very wide paths about the launch and intended operations. Thanks to  
Bob Bruniga, WB4APR, for his help in putting that part together. This  
will be a test to see how APRS can be used for messaging over wide  
areas. The messages will be using a VWS header so add that to your UI- 
View or D700/D-710 special message list.

Voice operations will be on the NERA, VWS and NVFMA repeaters. HF  
voice primary is 7242 KHz +/- 15 Khz for QRM/N and secondary will be  
3942 KHz +/- 15 KHz for QRM/N. These will be undirected nets. Special  
thanks to NERA and NVFMA for allowing the use of their repeaters  
during launches. VWS greatly appreciates it.

Launch is scheduled around 1000 hrs and should be quickly seen on  
findu.com once the gateways pick up packets. Flight time is expected  
to be approximately 70 - 90 mins.

The launch site caravan will leave Vienna Elementary School at 0730  
for Strasburg with set-up starting around 0900. For those not going to  
the launch site but wishing to chase we will meet at the Vienna  
Elementary School at 0830 hrs. This will allow us to adjust location  
prior to launch with real time wind conditions. Directions to the  
Vienna Elementary School are at http://www.viennawireless.org/meetings.php 
  . Talk-in will be on 146.685 Mhz. We would really like to have  
people paired off 2 to a car for safety reasons.

For more information contact me directly via email at: djs13 at ya hoo  
dot c o m obviously eliminate all the spaces and such.

Please share this and hope you enjoy the flight.

Dan Sullivan
KO1D

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