Iridium Integration Challenges As mentioned in our previous posts, we are beginning to develop more sophisticated payloads. One of the features that we are adding is two-way global communications with Iridium. As payloads become more complex a number of issues pop up. First, the total labor required to design, program, and test the payloads. But the increase in effort is non-linear. Every interface, every additional programmer, and every...

Mission: Global, Two-Way Comms While APRS has served as the primary tracking system on our previous missions, the idea of having two-way communications capability in all geographic areas is appealing. We have investigated satellite communications for our future missions. Starting out, we considered several services, including: OrbComm Globalstar Iridium After talking with fellow balloonists and evaluating the options, we decided Iridium...

With the help of John Malsbury, the California Near Space Project has updated its website with a more modern appearance and features that should help us stay in touch with everyone.  With this new site, we hope we can provide a more educational and aesthetically pleasing experience to our visitors.  Soon, we will also begin posting technical content for people that are curious about endeavors. We look forward to seeing you...

We thought we would let everyone know that our second trans-atlantic balloon, CNSP-18, has been recovered in Morocco.  The story involved some educated guessing, hiking, and for the first time, bargaining with the local population.  We greatly appreciate the time and energy that Patrick CN2GW / F1GXW, Said CN8WW, Amin CN8YM and Mohamed spent recovering the payload.  For the full story, see this...

  Transatlantic Balloon Flight, December 2-5, 2012 CNSP-18   K6RPT-12   California Near Space Project Launch of CNSP-18 Transcontinental / Transatlantic Balloon Flight By Don Ferguson AI6RE It was a rainy weekend in San Jose but all indications were that the weather would clear in the afternoon on Sunday, December 2nd, 2012. Almost 1 year ago, on December 11th, 2011, a latex balloon, CNSP-11, was launched from San Jose,...

  High Altitude Balloon Launch on November 6, 2012 CNSP-17   K6RPT-10 Maximum Altitude 102,142         We were testing the performance of our current stock, since recent Hwoyee 1600g flights have been demonstrating lower than expected altitudes.   Flight Information High Altitude Flight APRS Tracking on...

High Altitude Balloon Launch on July 27, 2012 Teachers in Space Program Maximum Altitude 110,434   NASA Ames in CA had high school science teachers fly in from all over the US, building balloon payloads to fly on Friday 7/27 for the teachers in space program. CNSP set up for a launch at 6 a.m. (PST), and supplied two tanks of H2 for the 3000g Totex carrying two 6 pound payloads. The flights APRS call is W4CHS-11. Some of the payload...