[W8MWA] Fwd: High-altitude balloon on June 26

Tue Jun 17 21:23:42 EDT 2014

Fellow MWAers,
Please see the email from Bob West regarding a balloon chase on June 26. 

73,
--
Josh Smith
KD8HRX

Email/jabber: juicewvu at gmail.com
Phone: 304.237.9369(c)

Sent from my iPhone. 

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Bob West <wa8ycd at hotmail.com>
> Date: June 17, 2014 at 5:32:24 PM EDT
> To: Dimitris Vassiliadis <dimitris.vassiliadis at mail.wvu.edu>
> Cc: Joshua Smith <juicewvu at gmail.com>, Randy Crowe <n8ozy at comcast.net>, Mig Crowe <k8mig at comcast.net>, Jake Tennant K8JWT <k8jwtennant at gmail.com>, Alex Lugo <alex.lugojr at mail.wvu.edu>, Allen Harris <lalk92 at comcast.net>
> Subject: RE: High-altitude balloon on June 26
> 
> Prof. Vassiliadis,
> 
> Thank you for the information. 
> 
> I will pass it along to the clubs in the area to see what interest there is. The
> next Monongalia Wireless Association meeting is TONIGHT at 6:30 at the
> Red Cross on Pineview Drive. If you or your team members can attend, you
> might be able to generate some interest.
> 
> NEARspace is an interesting area of investigation, and there is a certain thrill
> from the live chase and recovery. I would imagine several folks would like to
> help out. The tie in to Amateur Radio is great for our hobby; it exposes us to 
> both technical and non-technical public.
> 
> Below includes some "general information" boilerplate.
> 
> Morgantown Ham Clubs
> 
> There are two Morgantown clubs in addition to the WVU Amateur Radio Club.
> I am forwarding this to a few of the active members in both clubs.
> 
> Monongalia Wireless Association: http://www.w8mwa.org/
> Mon County Amateur Radio Association: http://www.qsl.net/k8mcr/index.html
> WVU Amateur Radio Club: http://www.csee.wvu.edu/w8cul/
> 
> 
> Field Day
> 
> On Saturday June 28 at 2:00 PM EDT Field Day 2014 begins. This is an exercise
> where ham clubs, individuals, and any combination you might imagine escape to
> the wilderness, a city park, a mall parking lot, or some such location and set up
> portable stations. For 24 hours they attempt to contact as many other fools that
> are doing the same thing.
> 
> In many cases, the event is as much social as technological. Most groups have a 
> pot luck dinner on Saturday night.
> 
> Everyone is welcome -- hams can participate in many ways. Non-hams or potential
> hams can learn about Amateur Radio, and there's usually an opportunity for them
> to try it out (with supervision) by making a few contacts.
> 
> 
> Morgantown Hamfest
> 
> Please also note that there is a "Hamfest" -- an outdoor gathering -- in Star City at
> St Mary's Catholic Church (outdoor pavilion) on Saturday June 21. I think it runs
> from about 8:00 AM until around 3:00 PM. You might be able to send some of
> your team there to recruit some help.  
> 
> I am on travel right now, and will not be back in town for the event, but wish you
> the best of luck with your flight!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Monongalia County Fair
> 
> MWA will "represent" at the Monongalia County Fair July 26-August 2. Right
> now the presence is in the development stage, but final details will be arranged
> after Field Day!
> 
> 
> 
> Ham Radio License Class
> 
> After I get back to Morgantown I will discuss with out committee about doing a Technician 
> License Class. It is my hope that we can follow the Tech class with a General Class Upgrade 
> session.
> 
> This usually consists of several introductory modules with a final intensive review on the 
> day of the exam. We review in the morning and administer the exams in the afternoon.
> 
> If any of your folks are interested, we'd be glad to have them attend. Technically advanced
> students might only wish to attend the final review where we read and answer every one
> of the questions that could be on the exam. (It's a government exam, 35 questions, multiple
> choice answers, the pool of questions is public domain!)
> 
> The weekly sessions are more laid back, and meant to introduce some of the "flavor" of the hobby
> to the totally inexperienced students--many have no technical background. We try to do some demos
> and hands-on activities along with discussion of the requirements for the exam.
> 
> 
> 
> WV State Amateur Radio Convention
> 
> Pardon me for relapsing into my nature as a shameless solicitor. On Saturday August 23
> the West Virginia State Amateur Radio Convention meets at Jackson's Mill WVU Conference
> Center. If you guys have your videos, pictures, telemetry data, and whatever, in a sharable
> format (I'm thinking "Science Fair Display") I'm sure the attendees would appreciate the
> information. Just something I thought I'd toss out for you to consider.
> 
> The next planning meeting for the Convention is Saturday, July 12, at the STEER STEAKHOUSE
> in Weston (US 33 @ I-79 Exit 99)
> 
> West Virginia State Amateur Radio Council,
> sponsor of the State Amateur Radio Convention:  http://www.qsl.net/wvsarc/
> 
> 
> Thanks and "73". 
> 
> 
> Cheers,
> ...Bob West WA8YCD
> 
>  "Remember, no matter where you go, there you are!" -- Buckaroo Banzai
> 
> 
> 
> From: Dimitris.Vassiliadis at mail.wvu.edu
> To: wa8ycd at hotmail.com
> CC: John.Christian at mail.wvu.edu; Amy.Keesee at mail.wvu.edu
> Subject: High-altitude balloon on June 26
> Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 20:04:33 +0000
> 
> Dear Mr. West,
> 
>  
> 
> I am writing to you regarding a ham radio project where the Monongalia Wireless Association might be able to help a team of science and engineering students at WVU.
> 
> The project, which involves Prof. John Christian of Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering and Prof. Amy Keesee also of Physics and Astronomy, focuses on a high-altitude balloon to be launched on June 26 from a location South-East of Morgantown.  We have added to the payload a ham radio transmitter built by Dr. Mike Palmer for tracking purposes.
> 
> We were wondering if one or more ham radio amateurs would be interested in tracking the balloon in addition to the WVU chase team. The flight is scheduled to take place at 05:00 am local time, ascend to at least 60,000 ft, and last no more than 4 hours (and probably closer to 2.5 hours). Tracking would be particularly important after the first 90 minutes for a timely recovery of the balloon payload.
> 
> We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
> 
>  
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
>  
> 
> Dimitris Vassiliadis
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> ***************************** 
> 
> Dimitris Vassiliadis 
> Research Associate Professor 
> 
> West Virginia University
> Department of Physics and Astronomy
> White Hall 205, Campus Box 6315 
> 135 Willey St., Room 205
> Morgantown, WV 26506-6315 
> 
> Office phone: (304) 293-4920. 
> Fax: (304) 293-7532
> Cell phone: (202) 315-6976
> dimitris.vassiliadis at mail.wvu.edu
> 
> *****************************
> 
>  
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