Solar Eclipse High-Altitude Balloon System Deployment August 21, 2017

This poster presents the tracking and live-streaming systems developed by the Gannon University High Altitude Ballooning Team in conjunction with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), Montana University, and other universities used to capture the August 21 solar eclipse. Also described are the preparation activities, launch day procedures, and final results of the Gannon Team’s flight. Four payloads were developed: the Raspberry Pi controlled video payload, the RF (Radio Frequency) and cell phone tracking payload, the still image and Iridium payload, and the cut down payload. The base station consisted of three antennas and laptop for reception and streaming of live video and still image photos. Two tracking vehicles equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit, RF antenna, and laptop were used to track the balloon and record the path of the tracking vehicles. The MapPoint software package was used to simultaneously plot GPS coordinates received from the RF and GPS antennas. C# code was developed by the Gannon Team to extract and write RF transmitted GPS coordinates to a .csv file inputted into the MapPoint software. Cell phone data was transmitted to AccuTracking.com via mobile hotspot. A switch connected to the RF GPS and microcontroller prevented the phone from transmitting until the payloads landed. Iridium coordinates were retrieved from the Borealis website. All launch day activities including the filling of the balloon and the final preparation and testing of payloads were completed by the Gannon Team. Transportation of equipment from Erie to Kentucky was also done by Gannon