[BLT] North Texas Balloon Launch TOMORROW!

[MacAllister, Andrew [EPM/HOU]]

BLT Team,

If all goes well, the North Texas BLT is launching tomorrow.
Here is the info as sent via AMSAT:

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: JOHN GRAHAM, AIRPORT SUPERINTENDENT,
DOUG HOWARD, KG5OA, OR TOMMY DAVIS, W5TCD

AUG 17, 2003 PHONE: (254) 582-3478, OR (817) 346-0381

NORTH TEXAS BALLOON PROJECT ANNOUNCES
PROJECT # 10, THE FLIGHT OF EL FENIX

AMATEUR RADIO GROUP TO FLY HIGH FROM HILLSBORO AIRPORT

On August 30, 2003, Hillsboro Municipal Airport will be the location for
the 10th mission of the North Texas Balloon Project (NTBP). In case of
bad weather/Presidential delay will launch the next week on
September 6, 2003. Two payload packages constructed of Styrofoam
and housing communication devices will be attached to a weather
balloon and lifted aloft to an expected altitude of 100,000 feet. NTBP
officials will begin preparations at 7:30 a.m. and launch the balloon at
approximately 9:30 a.m. NTBP's Doug Howard said, "This is being done
mostly for fun. But, this exercise will support the President's call for
Homeland Security and give an opportunity for us to practice our skills.
It involves many different facets of amateur radio and thus a project that
many types of amateur radio operators can enjoy together. There is
also an educational component utilized by scouting groups, because it
can be counted towards several different merit badges, as well as by
teachers for science experiments."

Funding Sources - Generally, The Lockheed Martin Amateur Radio Club
members provide all of the funding for the launches. However, it is worth
noting that NTBP has not done a launch in about 5 years and many of
in the organization thought it would never launch again. NTBP decided
to dub this mission El Fenix, after the Beautiful Bird that rises from the
ashes, and have received permission from the restaurant chain to use
their logo and name, as a sponsorship decoration on the side of our
package (and anywhere else we like) in association with this activity.
So we have a bit of sponsorship/advertising support from El Fenix
restaurants.

The equipment used normally has a communications range of about 25
miles, but that range will be increased to about 500 miles when at
altitude. Radio operators from all over Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and
Kansas will be able to communicate with each other using the
equipment. An onboard GPS receiver will beacon its position once a
minute. A television transmitter will show video from two cameras, one
pointed up at the balloon and the other pointed back at the earth,
to observe the ride to altitude. From that altitude, the curvature of
the earth is visible. A 35mm camera will also take photographs every
four minutes throughout the flight. Two other devices will provide for
two-way communications for ham radio operators. After reaching
approximately 100,000 feet in about 90 minutes, the balloon will expand
to its maximum volume and finally burst, free falling back to Earth in
about 25 minutes riding on a pre-deployed parachute. Mobile recovery
teams will use position reports from the onboard GPS and radio
direction finding techniques to recover the payloads.

NTBP is a group of amateur (HAM) radio operators from Fort Worth, based
at the Lockheed Martin Amateur Radio Club and since 1991 has also
launched balloons from Cleburne and Clifton Municipal Airports. The public
is invited to come out to the Hillsboro Municipal Airport, located at Exit 3
on Interstate Highway 35W, to watch the launch. For more information
contact Mr. Dave Heald with the Hillsboro Municipal Airport at (254)
582- 3731.

Communications:

Crossband FM repeater Uplink 445.800 MHz - Downlink 147.56 MHz
GPS Data Downlink 144.39 MHz (KG5OA-11)
Simplex Parrot Repeater 146.500 MHz
FM ATV 1255 MHz

There will also be a 35mm still camera with a timer taking pictures
about once every 3.5 minutes

HF Launch Net 7.230 MHz

Doug Howard - KG5OA
2517 Coldstream Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76123-1239



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