University of Minnesota

Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics

High Altitude Balloon Project

Procedure Outline

Project Organization:

Operations:

A mission manager will be in overall charge of each mission. Underneath, three divisions will be responsible for different phases of the mission. These will be the Launch, Flight, and Recovery teams, each led by a director.

The mission manager will have command control throughout the entire mission. However, during specific phases, each of the directors will have immediate command over the mission.

Timeline of Events Command Director

FRR (Flight Readiness Review) to balloon release: LAUNCH

Balloon release to burst/cut down: FLIGHT

Burst/cut down to spacecraft recovery: RECOVERY

At many steps in the pre-launch process, many GO/NO-GO spots will be setup to ensure a safe flight and easy recovery.

The ideal number of people would be: 4 for Launch, 2 for Flight, 3 (or more) for Recovery. This could be done with as few as 4, some people could double-up responsibilities

Timeline:

Five to seven days before launch:

Test spacecraft payload

Test all equipment needed for mission (radios, etc)

Reserve vehicles (rent)

Confirm launch site availability

Three to four days before:

Check predicted trajectory daily (more often?) to ensure spacecraft will avoid hazards

Begin daily updates of weather forecasts for both launch site and predicted trajectory

Two days before:

Mission Readiness Review (MMR):

Entire team meets

Review mission

Confirm all systems are go (spacecraft is working)

Confirm weather is within requirements (cloud cover, winds, visibility)

Confirm all equipment is ready (radios, vehicles)

Confirm all personnel are ready and trained

Day before launch:

Flight Readiness Review (FRR):

Entire team meets

Spacecraft becomes care of the launch team

Load up vehicles and go to launch site (hotel)

Launch day:

Pre-launch setup:

Arrive at launch site 1.5-2 hours before launch

Setup one vehicle as the recovery vehicle with just the recovery team’s gear

Lay out tarp, helium equipment, and launch equipment

Activate spacecraft (power on)

Ensure that recovery and flight teams are receiving data from spacecraft

Verify all systems are go

Test all connectors (NiChrome burners) with multimeter

Fill balloon to required level

Attach spacecraft and parachute to balloon

Assemble “static” launch system

Launch the balloon!

Recovery team leaves to go to the predicted landing site

Launch team begins cleaning up the launch area

Flight of balloon:

Call FAA at predetermined times (liftoff, specific altitudes, touchdown)

Update winds aloft data to tracking software

Update recovery team on changes in predicted landing site

Give recovery team look angles and direction to balloon

Once spacecraft has been recovered, put away flight tracking equipment

Recovery:

Head for predicted landing site

Receive updated info from Flight (look angles, direction, predicted landing zone)

If balloon is visually sited upon landing, proceed to landing zone and recover

If not, use GPS location, audio beacon, and/or direction antenna if needed

Ask permission from property owners to enter private property

Once spacecraft has been found

Turn off spacecraft

Gather parachute and lines carefully

Take spacecraft and put in recovery vehicle

Once in vehicle, radio Flight and say, “Spacecraft successfully recovered”

Drive back to launch site (or predetermined location)

After launch:

Once entire team is together

Post mission check

Inventory

Clean launch area, vehicles

Day after launch

Team debriefing

Retrieve data from spacecraft

Check spacecraft systems

Later

Data debriefing

Mission manager’s final meeting

All directors attend

List items that could be improved for future missions

Make report for project director