LAUNCH OPERATIONS PROCEDURE

LOUDOUN AMATEUR RADIO GROUP
HIGH ALTITUDE BALLOON PROJECT
FLIGHT 2002A (SKY-EYE-II)
LAUNCH OPERATIONS PROCEDURE
V 1.0 12 July, 2002
Tom Dawson, Chairman, LARG Balloon Committee
Friday, July 12, 2002 1:48 PM

Launch Schedule:
Arrive Launch site at or about 08:00 EDT
Scheduled Balloon Release about 09:00 EDT

Personnel:
Tom Dawson WB3AKD Team Leader - Balloon Filling-Instrumentation Payload Lead
Pam Bozzi N4OPN
Allon Stern KE4FYL
John Rehwinkel KG4L -Camera Payload Lead

Equipment:

Ground Support Equipment (GSE):
Launch Team Procedure data 12 July 2002
2 Tanks Helium
Helium Regulator
Fill Tube with ball valve
Paper strip 2” wide 7 “ long
2” screw type hose clamp
Tarp and Pad
Scale
Sand for free-lift weight
1-gallon paint can for holding sand
Cotton Gloves
Snap clips

Flight Equipment:
1500g Balloon
Instrumentation payload
Photo Payload
3 lengths of cotton string pre-cut and wrapped on separate marked cardboard tubes, 15, 30 and 55 feet.
2 6-foot lengths of cotton string for tying the neck of the balloon.
4-foot Parachute.

Communications Equipment:
HF Transceiver
VHF Transceiver programmed for communication frequencies
VHF Receiver for 145.65 D/L
Tape recorder or computer for D/L recording

Procedures:

_____ STEP 1: Arrive on Site and establish Communications with Mission Control.

_____ STEP 2: Prepare Filling Apparatus: Attach Regulator to tank, close fill valve.

_____ STEP 3: Prepare Flight Train:

a._____
Verify Instrumentation P/L operational by plugging in umbilical connector and verifying TLM transmission. Remove Umbilical Plug.

b._____
Verify Photo P/L operational by plugging in umbilical connector and verifying 10 flashes of blue LED. Remove Umbilical Plug.

c._____
Weigh both payloads and record: Instrumentation P/L ______lbs. Camera P/L ______ lbs.

d._____
Attach 30 ft. of cotton string to suspension loop on Instrumentation payload and attach free end to bottom of camera payload.

e._____
Attach 55 ft of cotton string to top of camera P/L and attach free end to bottom of parachute shroud lines.

f._____
Attach 15-foot length of cotton string to top loop of parachute. Place free end in a convenient location for attaching to the inflated balloon.

_____ STEP 4: Prepare To Fill Balloon:

a._____
Calculate weight of sand-can for filling (Free Lift weight): Total Free Lift will be 100% of weight of flight components.
Free Lift = Balloon + Parachute + Instrumentation P/L+ Camera P/L.
Total Weight of Can + Sand = Free Lift - (Balloon + Fill Valve/Tube).
Record Required Total Weight of (Can + Sand): _________________lbs

b._____
Add Sand to can until the required weight is attained. Attach sand can to filler tube

c._____
Lay out tarp and pad for filling.

d._____
Unroll Balloon on pad

e._____
Put neck of balloon over filler tube, wrap protective paper strip around neck and clamp with hose clamp.

f._____
Verify Fill Valve Closed: Open He Tank valve. Set Regulator to 8-9 PSI.

g._____
Advise Mission Control that the balloon is ready to fill and wait for clearance to fill.

h._____
When cleared to fill, open Fill Valve. Stabilize balloon as it fills. Insure no twisting or bulging of neck. Fill until can of sand just lifts off of the ground. Close Fill Valve.

i._____
Tie off neck of balloon just above the fill tube, wrap twice and tie twice.

j._____
Tie additional safety line around neck of balloon; wrap and tie twice then tie free end to a firm anchor.

k._____
Turn off tank valves.

l._____
Remove hose clamp and protective paper from neck of balloon and remove filler tube.

m._____
Fold neck back once or twice and wrap twice and tie three times.

n._____
Attach free end of string from the flight train.

o._____
On the minute, activate both P/L by plugging in umbilical connectors and tightening the tie-wraps.

p._____
Advise Mission Control that the team is ready to launch.

q._____
With one launch team member holding each payload, move train out downwind of the balloon and await clearance to launch.

_____ STEP 5: Launch:

a._____
When cleared to launch, verify visually that no aircraft are in the vicinity of the launch site.

b._____
When Airspace is clear, remove the safety weight, and holding the balloon by the neck walk toward the payload. Release the balloon prior to reaching the first payload.

c._____
The team members holding the payloads should hold them above their heads and let the balloon lift them out of their hands.

d._____
Record launch time and relay to Mission Control.

_____ STEP 6: Post Launch Actions:

a._____
Monitor flight visually and confirm flight train is clear of all ground obstacles.

b._____
Remove regulator from tanks and replace safety caps. Pack up all the gear and standby until tracking stations acquire the telemetry signal.

c._____
When released by Mission control, Terminate Launch ops. head for flight estimated destination: Monitor telemetry along the way.

NNNN

_____ STEP 3:	Prepare Flight Train:
a._____	Verify Instrumentation P/L operational by plugging in umbilical connector and verifying TLM transmission. Remove Umbilical Plug.
b._____	Verify Photo P/L operational by plugging in umbilical connector and verifying 10 flashes of blue LED. Remove Umbilical Plug.
c._____	Weigh both payloads and record: Instrumentation P/L ______lbs. Camera P/L ______ lbs.
d._____	Attach 30 ft. of cotton string to suspension loop on Instrumentation payload and attach free end to bottom of camera payload.
e._____	Attach 55 ft of cotton string to top of camera P/L and attach free end to bottom of parachute shroud lines.
f._____	Attach 15-foot length of cotton string to top loop of parachute. Place free end in a convenient location for attaching to the inflated balloon.

_____ STEP 4:	Prepare To Fill Balloon:
a._____	Calculate weight of sand-can for filling (Free Lift weight): Total Free Lift will be 100% of weight of flight components. Free Lift = Balloon + Parachute + Instrumentation P/L+ Camera P/L. Total Weight of Can + Sand = Free Lift - (Balloon + Fill Valve/Tube). Record Required Total Weight of (Can + Sand): _________________lbs
b._____	Add Sand to can until the required weight is attained. Attach sand can to filler tube
c._____	Lay out tarp and pad for filling.
d._____	Unroll Balloon on pad
e._____	Put neck of balloon over filler tube, wrap protective paper strip around neck and clamp with hose clamp.
f._____	Verify Fill Valve Closed: Open He Tank valve. Set Regulator to 8-9 PSI.
g._____	Advise Mission Control that the balloon is ready to fill and wait for clearance to fill.
h._____	When cleared to fill, open Fill Valve. Stabilize balloon as it fills. Insure no twisting or bulging of neck. Fill until can of sand just lifts off of the ground. Close Fill Valve.
i._____	Tie off neck of balloon just above the fill tube, wrap twice and tie twice.
j._____	Tie additional safety line around neck of balloon; wrap and tie twice then tie free end to a firm anchor.
k._____	Turn off tank valves.
l._____	Remove hose clamp and protective paper from neck of balloon and remove filler tube.
m._____	Fold neck back once or twice and wrap twice and tie three times.
n._____	Attach free end of string from the flight train.
o._____	On the minute, activate both P/L by plugging in umbilical connectors and tightening the tie-wraps.
p._____	Advise Mission Control that the team is ready to launch.
q._____	With one launch team member holding each payload, move train out downwind of the balloon and await clearance to launch.

_____ STEP 5:	Launch:
a._____	When cleared to launch, verify visually that no aircraft are in the vicinity of the launch site.
b._____	When Airspace is clear, remove the safety weight, and holding the balloon by the neck walk toward the payload. Release the balloon prior to reaching the first payload.
c._____	The team members holding the payloads should hold them above their heads and let the balloon lift them out of their hands.
d._____	Record launch time and relay to Mission Control.

_____ STEP 6:	Post Launch Actions:
a._____	Monitor flight visually and confirm flight train is clear of all ground obstacles.
b._____	Remove regulator from tanks and replace safety caps. Pack up all the gear and standby until tracking stations acquire the telemetry signal.
c._____	When released by Mission control, Terminate Launch ops. head for flight estimated destination: Monitor telemetry along the way.