[Ongoing]Would you be interested in... High Altitude Ballooning?

[cyclops]

EDIT: More info can be found here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=496829.0


Hello Bitcoin Community!

This summer as a personal project, I launched a payload consisting of a tracker, radio and cameras into the stratosphere, it reached 31km and measured up to -37ºC.

This type of artifacts is what is called HAB, or High Altitude Ballooning, a hobby extended mostly in the UK.

The Idea is simple, a big balloon filled with helium tied to a payload with a parachute, once the balloon burst the payload descends safely. Inside payload a tracker and radio module send position data as well as temperature or what ever you tell them to do so (Open source, you can add what ever sensors you want if you know how) Cameras take photographs/video of all the journey.

Here is what I did:
The electronics:


Cameras:


Balloon


Images the ballon took:


Note that the balloon was launched in Spain, the blue mass is the Mediterranean. "Costa del Sol" with Gibraltar and even Africa.












I am making this post to introduce you to this hobby and to see if there is enough interest in order to set up a "Shop" to sell all the required components for doing this, like a basic Kit as some of them are tricky to found. (Only one person I know mades this custom trackers at affordable price). Everything costs about 1000€, but on each launch you only have to buy the Helium and Balloon (If you don't loose your payload)

EDIT: As OgNasty suggested, it could be a community project to do.

[OgNasty]

Do you have to recover it to get the pictures, or can they be viewed while in flight?  It would be a cool little community project to fund and launch one of these things for everyone to track and view the pics.     You could probably even raise even funds to add some other cool gadgets to the payload.

[cyclops]

Do you have to recover it to get the pictures, or can they be viewed while in flight?  It would be a cool little community project to fund and launch one of these things for everyone to track and view the pics.     You could probably even raise even funds to add some other cool gadgets to the payload.

Yes you have to recover it, as the radio module works at 50 baud rate (50 words per minute) and it would take very long to send a picture (Though using special modules you could send tiny images). 3G internet would not work above 1000m. It would be awesome to launch this year, everyone could track it because when the data is received the computer uploads it to http://spacenear.us which shows current location, altitude and info about sensors (Temperature...)

Bitcoin could go to the stratosphere before reaching the moon ;P

EDIT: Radio data is received in a 500km range.

[cyclops]

This is an Amazing looking project lol  Love those pictures.

Im glad you like them, I just uploaded a few more

[cyclops]

I see a U.F.O. !!!

In fact I had to contact the Air Space Management Agency in my country and they issued a NOTAM (Notice To Air Men) about the payload, so not that unidentified though ;P

[Dosmas]

+1

I'd like to be in on it. as microfunding a flight.

For shop I wouldnt know, seems like it would possibly cause troubles with aero traffic right if done too often?

[OgNasty]

Do you have to recover it to get the pictures, or can they be viewed while in flight?  It would be a cool little community project to fund and launch one of these things for everyone to track and view the pics.     You could probably even raise even funds to add some other cool gadgets to the payload.

Yes you have to recover it, as the radio module works at 50 baud rate (50 words per minute) and it would take very long to send a picture (Though using special modules you could send tiny images). 3G internet would not work above 1000m. It would be awesome to launch this year, everyone could track it because when the data is received the computer uploads it to http://spacenear.us which shows current location, altitude and info about sensors (Temperature...)

Bitcoin could go to the stratosphere before reaching the moon ;P

EDIT: Radio data is received in a 500km range.

Could the radio be upgraded with enough funds, or is there a better method that could be used?  It would be cool to see enough BTC raised to put up something awesome and have it stay up for a long time sending back pictures.

[cyclops]

+1

I'd like to be in on it. as microfunding a flight.

For shop I wouldnt know, seems like it would possibly cause troubles with aero traffic right if done too often?

Great, the I will prepare a serious project to do it right.

You only have to ask for permission, bear in mind that planes travel at 10km and balloons usually reach 30km, ascending at 5m/s they spend little time that high.

[cyclops]

Do you have to recover it to get the pictures, or can they be viewed while in flight?  It would be a cool little community project to fund and launch one of these things for everyone to track and view the pics.     You could probably even raise even funds to add some other cool gadgets to the payload.

Yes you have to recover it, as the radio module works at 50 baud rate (50 words per minute) and it would take very long to send a picture (Though using special modules you could send tiny images). 3G internet would not work above 1000m. It would be awesome to launch this year, everyone could track it because when the data is received the computer uploads it to http://spacenear.us which shows current location, altitude and info about sensors (Temperature...)

Bitcoin could go to the stratosphere before reaching the moon ;P

EDIT: Radio data is received in a 500km range.

Could the radio be upgraded with enough funds, or is there a better method that could be used?  It would be cool to see enough BTC raised to put up something awesome and have it stay up for a long time sending back pictures.

I will do some research for better ways of sending pictures, but the only one I've seen is with a 300baud module. The problem is that someone has to be in range to receive pictures. There are two types of balloons, this that go up and down quickly (mine took about 90 mins to go up 31km and down) or floaters that can be for days floating and travel thousands of Km, but as said if nobody with a radio at range signal would be lost.

[cyclops]

You should start a project for a local school and Send the First Bitcoin to space then auction it off for charity.Like a fully funded 1BTC silver.

That would make the news and surely get publicity for the project.

Seems like a good idea, I'll start working on it.

[joethejudge77]

Wow! That's amazing! You did a great job! This personal project deserves our attention

[cyclops]

Wow! That's amazing! You did a great job! This personal project deserves our attention

Thanks!

[cyclops]

You should start a project for a local school and Send the First Bitcoin to space then auction it off for charity.Like a fully funded 1BTC silver.

That would make the news and surely get publicity for the project.

Seems like a good idea, I'll start working on it.

How much would it cost to fund 1 Launching with a Bitcoin inside the payload?  I'm curious.

As I can reuse parts from my previous flight (Data receiver costs about 200€) about 600€ +/- with 2 cameras inside, plus the BTC to be put inside.

[rmines]

Very cool toys
How do you recover the camera, is there a gps module? How can you be sure that the balloon won't drop in the sea or in a river?

[cyclops]

Very cool toys
How do you recover the camera, is there a gps module? How can you be sure that the balloon won't drop in the sea or in a river?

Yes, it has a GPS module that sends data over RTTY each 30 secs, so you can track the balloon on a map. By using a software that analyses all the world wind data you can predict the landing spot, in fact the prediction I did before launching was nearly perfect. Also, it is advisable to launch on a non-windy day and far from sea.

[edd]

Very cool toys
How do you recover the camera, is there a gps module? How can you be sure that the balloon won't drop in the sea or in a river?

Yes, it has a GPS module that sends data over RTTY each 30 secs, so you can track the balloon on a map. By using a software that analyses all the world wind data you can predict the landing spot, in fact the prediction I did before launching was nearly perfect. Also, it is advisable to launch on a non-windy day and far from sea.

I was wondering the same thing. Too bad I can't try this where I live - there's a very good chance it may land somewhere on one of the four military bases here. 

[CurbsideProphet]

Very cool toys
How do you recover the camera, is there a gps module? How can you be sure that the balloon won't drop in the sea or in a river?

Yes, it has a GPS module that sends data over RTTY each 30 secs, so you can track the balloon on a map. By using a software that analyses all the world wind data you can predict the landing spot, in fact the prediction I did before launching was nearly perfect. Also, it is advisable to launch on a non-windy day and far from sea.

On a non-windy day, what would you estimate the distance would be the balloon will travel from the launch site?  Also, how long does the balloon stay in the air before popping?

[cyclops]

Very cool toys
How do you recover the camera, is there a gps module? How can you be sure that the balloon won't drop in the sea or in a river?

Yes, it has a GPS module that sends data over RTTY each 30 secs, so you can track the balloon on a map. By using a software that analyses all the world wind data you can predict the landing spot, in fact the prediction I did before launching was nearly perfect. Also, it is advisable to launch on a non-windy day and far from sea.

On a non-windy day, what would you estimate the distance would be the balloon will travel from the launch site?  Also, how long does the balloon stay in the air before popping?

In my case it only travelled 20km, though we had to travel 60km by car, there was not an straight road to it . It usually takes 90 minutes from launch to landing, can be more or less depending on balloon, weight, parachute...

[OgNasty]

Do you have to recover it to get the pictures, or can they be viewed while in flight?  It would be a cool little community project to fund and launch one of these things for everyone to track and view the pics.     You could probably even raise even funds to add some other cool gadgets to the payload.

Yes you have to recover it, as the radio module works at 50 baud rate (50 words per minute) and it would take very long to send a picture (Though using special modules you could send tiny images). 3G internet would not work above 1000m. It would be awesome to launch this year, everyone could track it because when the data is received the computer uploads it to http://spacenear.us which shows current location, altitude and info about sensors (Temperature...)

Bitcoin could go to the stratosphere before reaching the moon ;P

EDIT: Radio data is received in a 500km range.

Could the radio be upgraded with enough funds, or is there a better method that could be used?  It would be cool to see enough BTC raised to put up something awesome and have it stay up for a long time sending back pictures.

I will do some research for better ways of sending pictures, but the only one I've seen is with a 300baud module. The problem is that someone has to be in range to receive pictures. There are two types of balloons, this that go up and down quickly (mine took about 90 mins to go up 31km and down) or floaters that can be for days floating and travel thousands of Km, but as said if nobody with a radio at range signal would be lost.

The beauty of getting the community involved is that there are folks all over.  I say you make a super ballon that will stay up longer and go farther than any other balloon of this type with a radio that is capable of sending back pictures (maybe a satellite link?).  We as a community could make sure that nearby folks are helping to receive the signal and recover the unit if necessary.  I think this is a cool idea and I'd throw a few bitcents at it and follow the project.  I think you could easily raise enough BTC to build whatever you wanted with a solid plan.  I also think if the plan went successfully, a lot of donations would be made, and probably several other units could be launched in countries all over the world.  This could turn into something huge if done right and expose balloon hobbyists to Bitcoin.  Perhaps even a website could be developed to fund and track awesome projects like this.

If (safely) launched with a couple lit flares, you could even get a massive amount of media attention: http://ktar.com/6/814826/Man-claims-responsibility-for-Phoenix-mystery-lights

[DanielVG]

TO THE MOON!