BRIEF update I am resetting the launch time to 10:00a Central 1600Z. Cloud coverage is forecast to be 100% overcast over the entire route of flight from 6:00a until at least 9:30a and regulations specify better than 5/10 cloud coverage. The video and images looking down would be pretty much a waste as well. This […]

Read more "Update #26 – Launch Attempt 1 – Delay ~2 hours"

The weather is shaping up nicely for a launch tomorrow morning. Surface winds are currently howling at 24 knots gusting 32 knots. Overnight though, we should see the speeds drop back into the 8-12kts range. I’m including all the screenshots so you can see what I’m seeing. All of these will be refined 12 hours […]

Read more "Update #25 – Potential Launch Attempt #1 – T-15 hours"

Some backers got a text message yesterday from the remind101 app. We learned a few things, I can update subscribers from my phone, but I’m limited to 120ish characters (similar to twitter). I can also attach almost any file type. I’ll probably grab a screenshot from the GPS tracking app as we go, or maybe […]

Read more "Update #24 – Hide and Seek"

It’s all starting to come together. Balloons were delivered on Monday, the parachute[s] came in last week, the radar reflector is assembled, the payload container has been finalized (it’s now a REALLY hard to miss blaze orange). Oh and we have the helium and built a regulator and filler nozzle. Everything we ‘need’ for a […]

Read more "Update #23 – It’s all coming together…"

This update is better communicated through photos and videos. I’ll provide comments though as we go. This is the payload train. From top to bottom you see the 1 meter parachute that will bring us down at a rate slow enough to protect the cameras and GPS but not so slow that we extend the […]

Read more "Update #22 – Things are really coming together"