Author Archives: Walter Dunckel

Kazu’s AG6NS-23 Pico Balloon Launch

At 9:25 am on November 2, Kazu launched a Yokohama pico balloon with Party Balloon Helium. His payload was a his RP2040 pico balloon tracker. This board is flying with about 40 mw of RF power output, which is about 3 times the power of previous flights. This payload used a tilted, pyramid style solarContinue reading “Kazu’s AG6NS-23 Pico Balloon Launch”

Battery Powered Pico W6MRR-34 Launch

Sunday, October 19, W6MRR-35 was launched. This was the third battery powered version, in an attempt to extend transmissions past solar generation “sunset”. The payload was very similar to the previous -33 flight. After a full week of successful testing, immediately after launch, only a few transmissions were heard, and they were very weak. WeContinue reading “Battery Powered Pico W6MRR-34 Launch”

Battery Powered Pico W6MRR-33

Saturday, August 23, W6MRR-33 was launched. This was the second battery powered prototype, in an attempt to extend transmissions past solar generation “sunset”. Being very light weight with ~ 10 g for a typical payload doesn’t leave many options for batteries.  Floating at ~ 40 K’, temperatures range from -50 C to -70 C.  UsualContinue reading “Battery Powered Pico W6MRR-33”

SF-HAB Aug 9 High Altitude Balloon #6

Due to an unusual wind causing predictions from our normal launch sites to land far out in the Pacific Ocean, a launch from Tracy was planned. The morning of the flight the Sondehub flight prediction was inexplicably down. An alternative sites predicted a Hayward landing. Unfortunately, we had very low turnout for the launch. ItContinue reading “SF-HAB Aug 9 High Altitude Balloon #6”