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Author
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Topic: Spacecraft models launched by weather balloons
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walkerj6
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posted 05-24-2012 01:03 PM
   
So it's been forever since I have posted on here — so I have this great idea — and as far as I know it has not been done. If it has, oh well I'm doing it anyway!I have decided to make a device to connect to a weather balloon and send it up to capture photos and video from 100k ft — I know many people have done this... BUT as I was building my "housing" for the camera, trackers, etc. to send up, something remarkable occurred to me. I am going to start over and build the housing to look just like the Apollo command module and the parachute to match the one that the command module used as well - I think it will be worth the time because after I"m done I'll have a nice looking mini replica command module that went to "space." Ideas, thought, comments? |
model maker
Member Posts: 130
From: NEVADA , USA
Registered: May 2012
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posted 05-24-2012 02:20 PM
That sounds like a good idea. I have seen these videos where people have sent things up in balloons and photographed and video taped it. You can see the curvature of the earth and the blackness of space from all of these. Here is of a beer can that is video taped going up, take a look. |
walkerj6
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posted 05-24-2012 02:26 PM
That's exactly what I'm talking about — and rather then a foam cooler - I'm going to make a styrofoam model of the command module. I think it would be really cool to have after it's all over. Does it qualify as "flown in space"?  |
Michael Ritter
Member Posts: 48
From: Long Island, NY USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 05-24-2012 10:52 PM
Check out the posts from April 7th and April 30th.  |
model maker
Member Posts: 130
From: NEVADA , USA
Registered: May 2012
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posted 05-25-2012 12:50 PM
That's incredible, great pictures, how close to space was it? |
Michael Ritter
Member Posts: 48
From: Long Island, NY USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 05-25-2012 04:15 PM
The balloon made it just over 100,000 feet before it burst. JP Aerospace has more information and the ability to buy space on some of their next missions. I'm tempted by the $320 minicube idea myself. |
walkerj6
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posted 05-25-2012 07:28 PM
Thats AWESOME!!! I'm going for something exactly like that. I have the equipment, minus the balloon and I have already build the styrofoam mold of the capsule. Next weekend I'm gonna fiberglass it, then add some paint and start some details on it. I'm aiming for a mid-July Launch! |
rjurek349
Member Posts: 1190
From: Northwest Indiana
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 05-30-2012 07:03 AM
Very cool project, if you haven't seen it! John's Paper Model's flew a very realistic looking Gemini capsule to the edge of space with one of JP Aerospace's pong-sat projects. I flew a logo of the Jefferson Space Museum on the same pod, but this project just blows mine out of the water. A great model and a great idea — awesome to see that Gemini fly. There was also a Star Wars X-wing and Tie-Fighter battle made of LEGOs flown! Now that's taking modeling to a whole new... ahem... level... |
Mr. Apollo 17
Member Posts: 55
From: Ashland, OH USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 06-05-2012 09:26 AM
I am going to launch a styrofoam cooler with a camera inside of it to photograph the next launch of the Falcon 9 with Dragon to ISS! |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 06-05-2012 03:32 PM
I doubt the FAA is going to give you a permit to do that since Florida airspace is already rather tightly controlled and Central Florida around CCAFS is even more so on launch days. Plus, with that close a proximity to the ocean (to the east and the west), if it gets caught by an upper level wind, it could end up far out to sea when the capsule comes back to Earth.There are some good reasons why these balloon projects are flown over the middle of nowhere, preferably as far from the oceans as possible. |
rjurek349
Member Posts: 1190
From: Northwest Indiana
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 06-05-2012 08:02 PM
Well, Jay, if the FAA will give a couple of hobbyists the A-Ok to launch a can of light beer then I think anything is possible... :-)...on a side note, there is a great interview video with John Powell, the founder of JPAerospace which you can find here at Moon and Back . |
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