[ILHam] Space Jam 3 Prepares for Take off, Saturday High Altitude Balloon Flights and more

[Brian Walker]

QSO Opportunity with High Altitude Balloon Flight Saturday, 18 July 2009

As part of SpaceJam-3(www.spacejamboree.com), DePauw
University(www.depauw.edu/acad/physics/base) will be flying a cross
band repeater to allow the Scouts at the Jamboree to talk with ground
stations from a large area of the central portion of the United
States.

Launch will occur at 13:50 UT (8:50 am Central Daylight Time) from
Rantoul, IL (40.29 N, 88.14 W)  The target ascent rate will be 1000
feet/min.

APRS information will be sent over 144.39 MHz every minute under the
call sign, W9YJ-11.

The helium filled balloon will reach a float altitude of 70000 feet
(21.5km) about 15:00 UT and will attempt to float at this altitude for
about three hours.  During this time the balloon should travel slowly
to the NW from about 40.0N & 87.8W to 40.1 N & 88.1 W. The descent
will begin about 18:00 UT on a slowly deflating balloon with landing
about 19:30 UT.

The uplink frequency on the radio will be 144.36 MHz, and the downlink
frequency will be 446.025 MHz.

The Scouts will be using the call sign WB9SA.  If you have a chance to
contact the station,  the Scouts will be thrilled to make the contact!
 You may also attempt to use the repeater for a long distance
Earth-Balloon-Earth contact with hams from larger distances.

Thanks to Howard Brooks, KC9QBN,  Professor of Physics & Astronomy at
DePauw University, W9YJ for making this happen!!!

If you are in the IL/IN area you might catch ATV from our first
balloon going up (100,000 ft) at 8:20 AM CDT Saturday from Rantoul IL
430 Mhz, with a CW call "DE WB9SA"

A big thank you, to all the hams radio operators making
www.spacejamboree.com the coolest Scout Technology event in the
Central USA!!!!! THANK YOU Howard!  Thank you VCARA, ARISS, ARRL
Foundation Contributors, NASA, Richard Garriott, West Mountain Radio,
PolyCom, 323.tv, Mike and Dave (our welders) and DePauw University.

73, and Make it a Tremendous Day,

Brian K Walker
K9BKW
WB9SA Trustee
Space Jam Technologist
Space Jam is a BSA Troop 17 / Crew 272 production