[HoustonHam] Fw: Launch

[John Cooper]

From: bennie youngblood 
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 4:09 PM
To: Billy at WeathersbySystems.Com ; cfikes at fikesmedia.com ; DAVID ; GRANT ; Joey ; k0axx at aol.com ; KE5KFD at Yahoo.com ; KX5C at SWBell.NET ; LStewart at GT.RR.Com ; munozjess at aol.com ; N5EKG at SWBell.Net ; n5lav at arrl.net ; rich.hudgins at gmail.com ; RSEAY at GT.RR.COM ; Tom.Dennis at ATT.Net ; VCastille at SBCglobal.Net ; w5hfj at me.com ; WT5Y at GT.RR.Com ; WU5Q at ARRL.NET 
Subject: Fw: Launch



      --- On Tue, 9/13/11, John Harrington <w5eme at gt.rr.com> wrote:


        From: John Harrington <w5eme at gt.rr.com>
        Subject: Launch
        To: jhansen27 at att.net, "Ron Harvey" <ronh at gt.rr.com>, "Jimmy Easley" <jheasley at sbcglobal.net>, "Tootie" <kc5hvt at gt.rr.com>, "Cullen Bordages" <cullenbordages at gmail.com>, "Terry Hayes" <N5LVA at ARRL.net>, "Kirk Mahaney" <n5wkm06 at gmail.com>, "Randy Leftwich" <rwleftwich at aol.com>, "Brian Cater" <txlawman at aol.com>, "Craig Harder" <craigharder at netscape.net>, "Chris Frye" <mrfrye1223 at yahoo.com>, "Rocky Wilson" <rockygwilson at hotmail.com>, "Bennie Youngblood" <rcflyer2125 at yahoo.com>, "Joey Wilson" <ke5jps at gmail.com>, "Walt and JoAnn Lombard" <wlombard at gt.rr.com>, "Darrell George" <wgeorge945 at aol.com>, "Mike Fauchaux" <n5kbw at midcountypc.com>, "John Harrington" <w5eme at gt.rr.com>, "L.B. Little" <mech5 at gt.rr.com>, "Maurice Ritchie" <drumpipe at gmail.com>, "Earl" <eoster at gt.rr.com>
        Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 7:31 PM


        The launch is on for this Saturday.

        I just checked the long-range weather  forecast-- 92 degrees, winds 5-10 easterly.

        Walt checked out the Beaumont muni airport site.  We are cleared for using the space
        for our launch and someone will open the gate for us at 8AM.  The hanger we used last
        time has been torn down and the new one is under construction, so we will not have a
        covered area to work in, but that should be no problem.  We can't count on having a
        120V outlet available, but LB is bringing a 5KW generator.

        I just found out for sure that once the balloon reaches a certain height, it will be able
        to reach via APRS the Internet Gateway near Silsbee, and can thus be tracked by
        any 3G smartphone which can access the Internet.  You go to 'findu.com' website,
        navigate to this area, and the balloon will be displayed on a Google map.

        Of course, those of you who have a nice laptop with a big display and an APRS 
        receiver will have an even better visual display, and will be able to track the balloon
        at lower altitudes on the parachute downward path.  I think we have a good shot
        at recovering the payload.

        If  we have good luck with the winds, touchdown shoud be no more than 10-20 miles
        from the airport.

        See you Saturday!

        John W5EME