ANSR-42 Flight Summary

Launch 15 Dec 2007, 1612 UTC, (9:12 AM MST)

Payloads Payload Computer, HF-APRS Beacon, APRS Beacon, ASU Student Payload


Flight Notes

1200 gram balloon

First ANSR landing on a power line. All the payloads survived and low cost 18 gauge wire was able to stand off 7,200 volt 3-phase transmission line.

First flight test of HF-APRS payload. Systems that were operationally nominal include; (A) HF transmit section - reception reports received from; Ralph (W0RPK) in Iowa, Bill at DN06 in Richland, WA, and a station at CN85 in Tillamook, Oregon, (B) GPS engine operational above 60K feet, (C) ARM7 processor, (D) temperature/humidity sensor, and (E) general system functions such as the power converters.

Operational issues include; (A) flight log cut off because of incomplete flash memory erase - caused by software bug and (B) problem with reception of APRS signal even under strong signal conditions. Further investigation under way before next flight.


Flight Data

Data and statistics recovered from Payload Computer Flight Data Recorder:

31.2 statue miles from the launch site on a heading of 122° true

Fight time 1:36:56, landed 1723 UTC, (10:23 AM MST)

Departed at 1275', landed at 1555'

Peak altitude 83,581'

Average ascent rate 1156'/minute.  Average descent rate 3187'/minute.  At touch down 1616'/minute.

Lowest internal payload temperature -2.1° F, average 34.8° F.

Lowest external temperature -66.1° F, average -23.7° F.

GPS maintained 79.2% 3D lock during flight.  Average PDOP 2.04.  Average of 8.00 tracked satellites.

Average bus voltage - Payload Computer 11.11 volts


Flight Data Recorder and Maps

	Payload Computer Flight Data Recorder contents as comma separated text (ASCII).  NOTE: This file contains the complete flight recording in one second increment.  Additional information on telemetry measurands included with Payload Computer - Data Logger
	HF-APRS Flight Data Recorder contents as comma separated text (ASCII).  NOTE: This file contains the complete flight recording in one second increment. The flight log is incomplete because the Flight Data Recorder memory contents was not erased completely before the flight.
	APRS data as received via I-gate and APRS Internet feed
	Flight Path Map.

Data Analysis

The following chart compares the reported altitude of the Payload Computer's MOtorola M12+ GPS Receiver to the HF-APRS Payload's Navman J32 with SiRF Star III chip set. The magenta line represents the Navman GPS engine. The purple line represents the Motorola GPS engine. The differences in the graphed data resulted from the Payload Computer GPS engine dropping out of a 3D lock. However, when a 3D fix was available, the altitude between each payload was within 30 feet.



Motorola M12+ vs. Navman J32 GPS Engine.