Article

...This one documents a Joint launch with Oregon State University conducted in the Fall of 2005 under the auspices of the NASA Oregon Space Grant Consortium. I could tell you all about it, but Cindy Bernert-Coppola did a good job.

In general, PSU provided GPS communication, tracking, and elevation diagnostics, in addition to the general balloon and retrieval hardware, while OSU provided payloads for imaging and other devices, such as a redundant Bird tracking system. The joint launch was a complete success and a blast. Some details include...

* Balloon reached elevation of over 110,000 feet
* Payloads were retrieved intact 50 miles due south of the launch site
* The balloon burst at altitude was witnessed by Donovan Finnestad! (lucky)
* Visual contact (by all participants) was made of the descent parachute within 500 feet from the ground
* No one got lost or froze to death
* OSU will continue to conduct launches later this fall and for the foreseeable future while PSU will prepare for further launches in spring 2006.

This was great fun, a great way to collaborate, exchange ideas, and gain experience together designing and developing systems to operate in harsh environments. There will be more of this type of thing going on, and if you are interest in getting involved let me know or contact the NASA Oregon Space Grant Consortium. Other Oregon universities such as Southern Oregon University and the Oregon Institute of Technology (check out this story), and George Fox University are doing it too. It's a gas...low density gas. Did I say that already?

later,

The team this time around included...Kenny Sernach (OSU), Donovan Finnestad (PSU), Jon Higginbotham (OSU), Josh Hatch (PSU), Bob McGown (PSU), Matt Lahmann (OSU), Rachel Green (WOU), Mandy Huxman (OSU), and Caleb Cornelius (OSU).

FYI Bob McGown, Oregon Hard Man (mountaineer), wrote up the story of the launch which published in one form or another somewhere else. I will find out how to attach it here someday along with two parodies of the day.