INTRODUCTION
The goal of the project is to construct an atmospheric probe and equip it with different sensors. The probe will be mounted on a meteorological balloon, and lifted to approximately 35 000 m (115 000 ft). The ascent and descent will be recorded with two on-board GoPro cameras, and the probe will be tracked via GPS. The projects name is VIC GOES TO SPACE - all the students attend the VIC HIGH SCHOOL (VI C is pronounced EXACTLEY like witch :) )
This project requires a somewhat bigger group of students - around 30. It is best suited for older high school students, with a preference for natural studies (physics, chemistry and biology), and love for technical skills.
At the beginning of students were divided into teams, and each of them was assigned a specific tasks: adaptation of specific sensors, design of the probe, design of the parachute, adaptation of the data acquisition device (DAQ) and GPS device, preparation of the biological samples. During the building stage the groups had to communicate with each other in order to get optimal sensor results. Each team had to keep a work journal and make a detailed work report at the end (will be added).
Students used the VERNER sensors and DAQ – Vernier supplies most of the equipment to our school, so it was the most convenient choice for us. But you can use any kind of DAQ, sensors and GPS system you can get.
NOTE: Due to the current weather situation in Slovenija the launch date is somewhere in the beginning of march, but we published all of the test launches. The flight movie will be updated ASAP, so be sure to follow us :)
This instructable was written (except the intro) and edited by the students.
STUDENTS WILL RESEARCH THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The goal of the project is to construct an atmospheric probe and equip it with different sensors. The probe will be mounted on a meteorological balloon, and lifted to approximately 35 000 m (115 000 ft). The ascent and descent will be recorded with two on-board GoPro cameras, and the probe will be tracked via GPS. The projects name is VIC GOES TO SPACE - all the students attend the VIC HIGH SCHOOL (VI C is pronounced EXACTLEY like witch :) )
This project requires a somewhat bigger group of students - around 30. It is best suited for older high school students, with a preference for natural studies (physics, chemistry and biology), and love for technical skills.
At the beginning of students were divided into teams, and each of them was assigned a specific tasks: adaptation of specific sensors, design of the probe, design of the parachute, adaptation of the data acquisition device (DAQ) and GPS device, preparation of the biological samples. During the building stage the groups had to communicate with each other in order to get optimal sensor results. Each team had to keep a work journal and make a detailed work report at the end (will be added).
Students used the VERNER sensors and DAQ – Vernier supplies most of the equipment to our school, so it was the most convenient choice for us. But you can use any kind of DAQ, sensors and GPS system you can get.
NOTE: Due to the current weather situation in Slovenija the launch date is somewhere in the beginning of march, but we published all of the test launches. The flight movie will be updated ASAP, so be sure to follow us :)
This instructable was written (except the intro) and edited by the students.
STUDENTS WILL RESEARCH THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS
- atmospheric pressure
- UVA and UVB radiation
- ideal gas law, lift
- atmospheric gas composition
- Verner sensors datasheets
- living organisms in extreme conditions (extremophiles)
- electric current, Joule heat
- heat conductivity, thermal conduction
- GPS positioning systems
- air drag
- combustion
- buoyancy
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- By disassembling the sensors, making adjustments and building the probe, the students will learn to handle hand tools, power tools, how to solder and use appropriate safety measures.
- Students will develop creative problem solving skills as they will have to deal with a number of technical issues. They will develop team communication, and will learn to constructively interacts with team members and other teams in order to reach the goal.
- By building a hot wire foam lathe students will learn about the practical use of Joule heating, Joules First Law, electric conductivity and effects of high temperature on different materials (pvc, Styrofoam, etc...)
- By designing and building a parachute the students will learn about air drag, terminal velocity and will learn to handle a sewing machine.
- By examining the microorganism the students will learn about the living conditions of the extremophiles and will be able to predict their survival rate in extreme conditions.
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Signing UpStep 1: Description of work/components
The aim of the project is to construct an atmospheric probe equipped with sensors measuring: temperature, pressure, concentration of carbon dioxide, concentration of oxygen, UVA and UVB radiation and light measurements. We would like to see how height affects the behaviour of living organisms (in our case yeast). The probe casing is made of Styrofoam, enriched with graphite. The probe also includes a parachute, cameras and a pressure chamber.
For the probe the following equipment must be provided:
- probe casing
- carbon dioxide sensor
- oxygen sensor
- pressure sensor
- temperature sensor
- bacteria (yeast and Cryptococcus)
- light sensor UVA and UVB
- camera
- pressure chamber
- parachute
- GPS tracking unit
- data collection unit
We used the Vernier sensors, and modified them. They can be found at:
http://www.vernier.com/products/
For the probe the following equipment must be provided:
- probe casing
- carbon dioxide sensor
- oxygen sensor
- pressure sensor
- temperature sensor
- bacteria (yeast and Cryptococcus)
- light sensor UVA and UVB
- camera
- pressure chamber
- parachute
- GPS tracking unit
- data collection unit
We used the Vernier sensors, and modified them. They can be found at:
http://www.vernier.com/products/
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Was looking forward to hearing about your results!
Was it launched? Did it work? Did you get it back?
dying to know!
Not sure about the use of Cryptococcus as a model organism though. Some species are pathogenic (C. neoformans and C. gattii) so unless you can identify them to genus, you are better off avoiding Cryptococcus altogether.
James May's Man Lab UK BBC2
And to make it worse it had 3 Go Pros AND Rtty gps and altitude beacon
... well at least until the BBC half it, Again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhPgHlaMhMU
Please watch as it is funny!
No seriously, watch it, it's quite amazing.
Surely that would limit the ceiling height of the probe, because in ever thinner air, the balloon must expand to displace more of it, to retain buoyancy or else the ascend stops, but OTOH it could then loiter up there for a while, and that could provide more data for your experiment.
Did you test the type of balloon you would be using? How much do they expand under pressure difference (it never exceeds 1bar from here to outer space) and what is minimal and what is average pressure difference at which they burst?
Read here: http://www.4glaza.ru/G-project/zond/konkurs/
One comment though, did you consider the possibility of high winds in the upper atmosphere? There was one similar amateur balloon launched probe I was checking out that actually was flipped end over end when passing through a high wind area. I would be concerned about the exposed parachute opening on the ascent, at a minimum it could drag the probe a lot further laterally than anticipated and worst case could break free entirely leaving the probe to free fall back down. I wouldn't delay the launch, just something to consider if you and your students can come up with a solution before launch day.
Good luck, looking forward to the videos.
The one issue is the temp which can reach -40 C during a trip to 35km. Temps that low drain batteries much faster which could lead to no chute deployment with an electronic release system. A mechanical air speed "sensor" oriented to measure relative speed when the probe is falling could work around the battery issue but a strong gust of wind blowing up under the probe could still deploy the chute early. I've been slowly getting the parts together to launch a similar probe and was going to test a system where the chute is actually stored inside the inflated balloon. Then when you reach altitude and the balloon pops the chute is deployed. Like @rokcapuder points out below a lot of this come down to luck.
But the probe has a heating element inside and the air compressor also generates some heat, so I think we'll be fine.
Yes in some aspects you just cant be sure. Let's hope for the best!!!
The lateral drag is not a big concern, we plan to find the probe within the day of the launch.
As for high altitude winds - we are working with the national weather centre and if the vertical winds above 25 km reach more than 30 m/s we will have to postpone the launch. The probes strings are approx 2 m long and even if the probe flips it wont catch the chute.
The strings of the probe/parachute can hold the force of 800 N (80 kg) each, and we have 8 of them. The probe is assembled together via an aluminium belt - so that should should hold as well. The string holding the balloon holds 1000 N (100 kg), so it should in the rare case break first, and so protect the probe.
Of course there is the ''luck'' factor here, and I hope it's on our side!
:D
Čestitke da si prišel med featured ;)
Also to prevent early bursting of the balloon, avoid unnecessary handling / rough treatment of the balloon.
Keep the long length of string (>15m) between the balloon and the probe, this will prevent the wind motion on the balloon affecting the probe and sensors.
Went up to 118,000feet but unfortunately feel in the sea on the way down....ha! Check out the link for more on that.