High-Level Project Summary
We developed a lesson-plan and bill of materials which teach students how to build a low-cost high-altitude balloon capable of reaching near-space.This project develops new method of preparing and solving the challenges of near space, performing the near space experiments using the cost effective payload tied with hot air balloon which requires high skills like problem solving, proper planning, deep analysis, tracking and recoveryHot air Balloon payloads provide information on the atmosphere, the universe, the Sun, and the near-Earth and space environment. furthermore , these can be valuable tools for scientists and undergraduate and graduate students conducting work in scientific fields
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
With the primary purpose of developing and flying low-cost scientific payloads on a balloon-borne platform; an endeavor to enable carrying out scientific space experiments and observations at costs accessible to university departments, we used a new method of cost effective HAB with low cost payloads which encompasses a large number of components (electronics and mechanics ) tested at an altitude of 20 to 100 km.
How does it work?
We have used latex balloon filled with helium approx. 3 kg where the crucial step is to determine the painting direction. We ran different simulations and compiled a comprehensive procedural document that makes easier for any amateur scientist to try out their own HAB. Expected balloon parameter was predicted using HAB hub Burst http://habhub.org/calc/ calculator and flight path was predicted through HAB hub predictor https://predict.habhub.org/. Furthermore weather forecasting is to be done thorough NASA weather portal https://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Janakpur/forecasts/latest. Approval from different airport and air force agencies is also required to perform the balloon flying experiment.
For additional accuracy we track it using the SPOT trace GPS tracker to send the data and took imaging through the external camera. After the landing we will be using a Geofencing-based flight termination unit which will terminate when it is about to reach the Nepal-India border (for Nepal). We will use Raspberry Pi (RPi) SBC that reads and controls the sensors, calculates the system’s attitude, and generates control commands. We will use the open-source code Linux-mpu9150.
Unlike multi million dollar rocket launches, HAB can be prepared in low cost for the specific locations, saving time , energy and million dollars. It helps in developing new techniques and platforms for measuring and identifying energetic ionizing radiation in the atmosphere along with conducting research with low cost on atmospheric sciences , cosmic ray , gamma ray and X-Ray astrophysics. It also allows to perform high-altitude astrobiological experiments, such as for example survival of microbes in upper atmosphere, or collection of stratospheric samples to study the air/dust composition, especially in view of the recent claims of detection of extra-terrestrial cells in stratosphere.
To conclude, this projects helps to all the motivated students with vision and talent to carry out their own research at minimal cost which serves as a giant technological leap.
Space Agency Data
The data provided by the NASA space app challenge was pretty useful and help us in making the draft of our whole course and materials required for the project. Using the NASA space Data we calculated the weather of our launching site (temperature, pressure, wind) which helped for us during our launch. Space agency data helped us to calculate an overview of the whole project from the launch to the deployment of the high altitude balloon. Using the simulation we have predicted our landing site, which is found to be around 25 the landing site. Apart from that we have used various NASA data to gain the knowledge about the Space and the high altitude balloon.
Hackathon Journey
Being from rural land where most people are not aware about the scientific study of space, we want to form a generation that has more capability of understanding and awaring the knowledge of outer space and universe.. It would be a dream if we were able to contribute to this world filled with highly qualified and top-grade researchers and work with those heroes.. A group of high schoolers having the same enthusiasm and ambition were gathered through this hackathon. Our ardency is explained by our work behavior too. We tirelessly came out of our comfort zone to complete this project only because we wanted to contribute to our field and give a sort of challenge for ourselves. We were able to share intellectual ecstasy among us. Most of us are keen in motivating fellow Nepalese students to come forward and envision what perseverance and hard work can lead to. Though our journey was for a short tenure, we knocked down the barrier of hesitation and reluctance. Knowing the chance of failure and falling down, we were determined in doing our job and did our best and tried to add a brick in the Great Wall.
In this extensive project we would like to thank the NASA Space App Challenge organizing community for providing us with this opportunity and helping to break our cocoon introducing to this beautiful venture.
References
- https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-mission-will-study-the-cosmos-with-a-stratospheric-balloon
- https://www.csbf.nasa.gov/documents/conventional/OF-300-11-H%20%20Rev%20A%20Flight%20app%20instructions%20DRAFT.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2SNqUg9dBq6TC89y8DlU-08BS6a_HlELwxNI9F0eVRxxShVtHfBf6mlNw
- https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-launches-back-to-back-scientific-balloons
- http://predict.habhub.org/?fbclid=IwAR3QkHUjY4Q61c6ly8UtCPeQllEZp3roe7eaieo5FfnZMYYKT2AkGCvFteQ#!/uuid=5ead39c68258c0b391b5e6d08c68178b6844a334
- https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/58400?fbclid=IwAR3xDi191DM3GSbFOav4v3Dq60qkgF20fg0Wgiw7x4IZCdh9w2j7WvG_A-Y
Tags
#physics, #lowcostballoon, #mechanics
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.