[K3PZN-List] Results of SimSat-1A > SimSat-1B

[Pat Kilroy]

Date: Sat, 02 Oct 2004 11:29:28 -0400 
To: Neal Brown <nbrown at alaska.net> 
From: Pat Kilroy, Patrick.L.Kilroy at nasa.gov
Subject: Results of SimSat-1A > SimSat-1B 

Neal,

Hi!

Great, but not without a few bumps and bruises. 

We achieved ...

New record altitude on SimSat-1B (112,900+ feet 
AMSL with NASA C-band radar data to prove it, 
but unseen by the FAA-type radar) with a new 
record time-aloft duration (MET over 10,000 
seconds) with video of balloon burst via NASA 
long range cameras, and more.  

Our VHF telemetry failed early in the flight.  
We have many clues to continue piecing the 
puzzle to help improve for future ops.  

A CricketSat on UHF with standard 9V alkaline 
battery producing under 20 mW RF measured into 
the stock inverted-V external antenna was flown 
literally as a last minute "hitchhiker".  It 
operated all the way through splashdown.  If you 
could have heard our concurrent regional HF net, 
one opined that the lil guy saved the day!  ;-) 

Had Venture Crew 173 (high school-aged scouts) 
in Westminster, Md. as a remote ground station 
participating, paving way for future schools 
and groups.  

Go to http://www.patkilroy.com/simsat/ and check 
the new bulletin.  I will try to get a few more 
photos up later this weekend.  

School assembly and club meeting materials will 
follow.  Am trying to influence a *national* 
high-altitude balloon experimenter's symposium 
to happen with Chris Koehler.  

Next flight, SimSat-2, is likely in three weeks 
or so.  

Gotta run.  Trying to break camp.  Thanks!  

-Pat


P.S. Hope to see you and others at the 
AMSAT meeting this month in the D.C. area.  
Visit http://www.amsat.org for details.  


At 10/2/2004 Saturday 08:40 AM, Neal Brown wrote:
>Hi Pat, 
>Just curious how your flight went yesterday? 
>Neal 
>
>On Sep 30, 2004, at 10:07 PM, Pat Kilroy wrote: 
>
>
>> Please go to http://www.patkilroy.com/simsat/ and 
>> click on the link under "Schedule" to see the first 
>> pictures of SimSat-1A. 
>> 
>> SimSat-1B goes today! 
>> 
>> Thanks, 
>> 
>> Pat 
>> N8PK 
>> Wallops Island 
>> 
>> 
>> To unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo at lpl.arizona.edu 
>> with "unsubscribe sgsatellites" in the body of the message. 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>Neal B. Brown 
>Director, Alaska Space Grant Program 
>P.O. Box 755919 
>Fairbanks, AK 99775-5919 
>907-479-2773 
>FAX 907-474-2696 
>www.uaf.edu/asgp 


=====================================================================
Patrick L. Kilroy                                                HM3
Integration & Test (I&T) Manager  PHONE:  301-286-1984
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center  FAX:    301-286-1673
Building 5, Mail Code 568         E-MAIL: Patrick.L.Kilroy at nasa.gov
Greenbelt, Maryland  20771        WEB:    http://simsat.gsfc.nasa.gov
=====================================================================
 Find Me http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?call=n8pk-9&radar=*** 

  Inspiring the next generation of explorers, ... as only NASA can.