Pegasus HAB Project
Updates
- Work is nearly complete of HAPS-1 based upon a Gumstix Goliath prototype board - potential launch this weekend (23/08/08).
- Will include GSM, Packet Radio, SSTV Image Tranmission from a camera every 10 minutes.
- Can be tracked online spacenear.us Online Tracker
- Also log on to #highaltitude99 on irc.freenode.net
What is the Pegasus High Altitude Balloon Project?
The Pegasus High Altitude Balloon project is a UK based amateur student run project that involves launching payloads to “Near Space” (between an altitude of 60,000ft (20km) and 325,000ft (99km)). This is achieved through the use of helium weather balloons which are designed to burst at a certain height and then the payload returns to earth via parachute.
At present we have launched seven missions:
- Pegasus I reaching 66,000ft and being successfully reclaimed,
- Pegasus II which is at present missing (probably having landed in the North Sea.)
- Pegasus III which was successful.
- Pegasus V flew twice, the first flight was a sucess, the second landed in the sea just off the Norfolk Coast.
After the loss of Pegasus V the focus has shifted to Firefly using Telit GM862-GPS modules.
- FHALP-1, contact was lost after launch and is assumed to have landed in the North Sea
- FHALP-2 even though contact was lost at apogee was returned by a member of the public.
- FHALP-3 contact again was lost however on landing the flight computer restarted and the payload was recovered from a field in Norfolk.
Due to restrictions in the HAM licence in the UK the typical frequencies can not be used, instead we use GSM and also licence exempt frequencies mainly 434mhz at 10mW. The GSM doesn't work above about 3000ft however is extremely reliable once the payload has landed while the radio allows us to track the payload throughout the flight.
Missions
Pegasus
Firefly
Modular lightweight payload with simple GM862-GPS backup system (sms and morse radio) - allows for experimental payloads with the fallback tracker system. Once the basic system is complete and tested potential experiments include 2 way radio communications, video streaming, sunrise launches, etc.
