Montana's Ham Radio Forum

As part of a Junior High Science Fair project at Cascade Public Schools, where I'm the Tech Coordinator, we're planning to launch at 1500g latex "weather" balloon filled with hydrogen to lift several capsules with science experiments to measure temperature, relative humidity, oxygen saturation, and other experiments on Thursday Feb 13th, 2014, at 8am. We'll track the flight on APRS with K7GPS-11, K7GPS-12, and a SPOT receiver. We're hoping winds will return to being out of the SW, with a NE trajectory, up to 90k ft +, and drift downrange 70-100 miles. If weather isn't cooperating, we'll try everyday thereafter at 8am. We could use some chase team and communications support. If you have APRS, that's another plus. We may also have a simplex UHF repeater from Bill K7MT, depending on weight available. I hope to make the Feb 3rd GFAARC club meeting to share info with the group, and garnish support. Questions to Dave, K7GPS, email k7gps.dave@gmail.com or k7gps@arrl.net. Thanks.

Sounds very interesting, I would love to help however will be out of the area during that period. perhaps some others may volunteer to help.Keep up the good work!

Hi Dave,

I was wondering if you could give us an update on the balloon launch from the school in Cascade, MT? I believe the winds were not favorable on the original launch date of 13 February 2014, so the launch was postponed. Did the weather cooperate the following week, and if so - how did things go? Enquiring minds want to know!

Thanks!