Space starts in the spring mud of Nevada

[jpowell]

JP Aerospace is making a run to 100,000 feet on Saturday. This will be a "High Rack" balloon mission in support of the Airship to Orbit program and the PongSat program. Two balloons will lift the system to altitude. The vehicle will then descent by parachute. The primary purpose of the flight is to test a new spread spectrum command and control system. On board will also be 202 PongSat student experiments. Six of the PongSats have computer, sensors and data loggers on board. 14 other experiments are also on board along with a live video system. Pics of the vehicle (Away 26) are at our web site:<br /><br />www.jpaerospace.com<br /><br />We leave in the morning for mud, space and ping pong balls....<br /><br />This will be JPA's 86th mission.<br /><br />Wish us luck!<br /><br />JP

 

[arobie]

I wish you all luck. Have fun.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" />

 

[jurgens]

good luck!!

 

[spacester]

How'd it go? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jpowell]

We got within 15 minutes of launch when we held for a wind gust. The gust continued to over 20 knots for the rest of the day and we had to abort. We are going again this weekend. The area is wetter, (more mud on recovery), but, the weather looks better.<br /><br />For the lastest:<br /><br />www.jpaerospace.com<br />(go to the update log)<br /><br />JP<br /><br />John Powell<br />President<br />JP Aerospace, America's OTHER Space Program

 

[jpowell]

Away 26 has flown!<br /><br />We've posted pics and the mission results at the JPA website:<br /><br />www.jpaerospace.com<br /><br />John Powell<br />President<br />JP Aerospace, America's OTHER Space Program

 

[jpowell]

The Away 26 flight video is up at the JPA site:<br /><br />www.jpaerospace.com<br /><br />The Away 26 mission was a high altitude balloon flown in support of the JPA Airship to Orbit program.<br />It's the biggest video we've posted so far. It starts with a walk around of Away 26, then the launch. The scenes from the on board video really sway and rock. The turbulance went all the way to 80,000 feet. At the end of the on board video sequence you can see the balloon that burst flap in front of the camera. The end of the video shows the recovery.<br /><br />Suggestions always welcome.<br /><br />JP

 

[grooble]

Great pic, what is the ultimate height goal you are going for in your research program? If you build a bigger version than the Away 26 one, you could offer the worlds highest sky diving gig. I bet that could make you some money. Maybe get a world record and news coverage for it too.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />

 

[yevaud]

Absolutely wonderful.<br /><br />Jpowell, I worked on the TERRIERS satellite project at BU, back in the 90's. Given the challenges and problems we'd had, and the ultimate end of the satellite (inserted into the wrong orbital profile), your project may well be the future. Or at least a good part of it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>