[SMCARA] Fwd: [amsat-dc] Initial Results of Recent Flight

[A.J. Farmer (AJ3U)]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Pat Kilroy <Patrick.L.Kilroy at nasa.gov>
Date: Sep 30, 2005 3:10 PM
Subject: [amsat-dc] Initial Results of Recent Flight
To: amsat-dc at amsat.org


MARYLAND SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM SCORES HIGH

Greenbelt, Md -- Released Sept. 30, 2005

The MDSGC high-altitude balloon mission was highly
successful last Saturday morning.  There were about
30 students involved from UMd-College Park, Morgan
State University, Hagerstown Community College, and
Carver Center for Art and Technology High School -
Baltimore County.

The payload processing, launch preparations, flight
operations and data analysis was in fact a very
high fidelity simulation of a NASA space mission in
microcosm.  It was a fantastic experience for any
AMSAT member and all future engineers and
scientists.

The balloon reached almost 100,000 feet AMSL and was
carried down range through a layer of the jet stream
where the maximum speed of the payloads recorded was
105 miles per hour.

We recovered the payloads in the woods with plenty
of thick briar patches (ouch!) shortly after its
landing in a northern corner of western Howard
County.  Many thanks to Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, who
was a surprise guest and very valuable participant
in the balloon recovery operations.

Go to http://patkilroy.com/bpp/ to see the initial
results of the recent NS-5 flight.  More stuff
will be added next week as time permits.

I was honored to participate with the Maryland
Space Grant Consortium students.  They did a fine
job.  There are *many* great stories of success
and lessons learned to tell about this three-hour
mission.

Cheers,

Pat N8PK
SimSat P.I. and
AMSAT Area Coordinator

P.S. Watch for an announcement regarding the next
flight before Thanksgiving Day -- and how you can
participate from your home ground station.

=================================================================
Patrick L. Kilroy                                             WK
Integration & Test (I&T) Manager    301-286-1984 Voice
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center    301-286-1673 Fax
Building 5, Mail Code 568           Patrick.L.Kilroy at nasa.gov
Greenbelt, Maryland  20771          http://patkilroy.com/simsat/
=================================================================

       "A problem well stated is a problem half solved."
                   -Charles F. Kettering

--
A.J. Farmer, AJ3U
http://www.aj3u.com