| Arizona Near Space Research Promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education through Amateur Radio and High-Altitude Ballooning |
ANSR-134/135 : ASCEND-41/42 Fall 2021 Flight : 20 November 2021
Due to an unfavorable landing area if launched from Kiser School near Gila Bend, the team has decided to go south on AZ-85, 19 km (12 miles) to a site on the east side of AZ-85 (32° 46.758'N, 112° 48.600'W).
ANSR-134/Ascend-41
The launch day prediction for the ANSR-134/Ascend-41 balloon flight with a 130% fill is for a flight of 136 km (85 miles) on a bearing of 085°, landing at 32° 53.291'N, 111° 21.241'W, or 8 km (5 miles) SSW of Cactus Forest, Arizona. Burst should occur after 73 minutes with a total flight time of 107 minutes. The assumptions for this prediction are a 3000 gram balloon, payload mass of 8.56 kg (18.87 lbs), neck lift of 11.1 kg (24.48 lbs), an ascent rate of 6.65 m/sec (1310 fpm), a burst altitude of 29,787 meters (97,700 feet), descent rate at landing of 6.75 m/sec (1328 fpm) and using Habhub.com. Google Earth KML and JPG files are attached.
The launch of ANSR-134 is scheduled for today, Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 10:00 AM MST (1700 UT), from a site on the east side of AZ-85 19 km (12 miles) south of I-8 at Gila Bend (32° 46.758'N, 112° 48.600'W).
The Weather Underground forecast for Gila Bend, AZ for today, Saturday, November 20, is for: A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 81F. Winds light and variable. Weather at launch time is forecast to be partly cloudy with a temperature of 64F and winds north at 2 mph.
ANSR-135/Ascend-42
The launch day prediction for the ANSR-135/Ascend-42 balloon flight with a 130% fill is for a flight of 140 km (87 miles) on a bearing of 084°, landing at 32° 53.832'N, 111° 19.259'W, or 3.2 km (2 miles) ENE of ANSR-134. Burst should occur after 74 minutes with a total flight time of 108 minutes. The assumptions for this prediction are a 3000 gram balloon, payload mass of 8.33 kg (18.36 lbs), neck lift of 10.8 kg (23.85 lbs), an ascent rate of 6.63 m/sec (1304 fpm), a burst altitude of 30,091 meters (98,700 feet), descent rate at landing of 6.66 m/sec (1310 fpm) and using Habhub.com. Google Earth KML and JPG files are attached.
The launch of ANSR-135 is scheduled for today, Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 10:30 AM MST (1730 UT), from a site on the east side of AZ-85 19 km (12 miles) south of I-8 at Gila Bend (32° 46.758'N, 112° 48.600'W).
The Weather Underground forecast for Gila Bend, AZ for today, Saturday, November 20, is for: A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 81F. Winds light and variable. Weather at launch time is forecast to be mostly cloudy with a temperature of 66F and winds north at 3 mph.
Best Regards,
Bob Thompson, KC8BOB
NOTAM: ANSR-134/135 Launch @ 09:00 a.m.local/1600 UT
NOTAM # ANSR-134: GBN 11/136
ANSR-135: GBN 11/137
Flight tracking links on aprs.fi
Balloon 1 / ANSR-134
Balloon 2 / ANSR-135
Manifest
| ANSR-134 / ASCEND-41 | ||
| ANSR-134 / ASCEND-41 | lbs. | kg. |
| Parachute, Cord, Clips | 3.000 | 1.364 |
| KA7NSR-6 144.34 | 0.604 | 0.275 |
| CGUHS | 2.803 | 1.274 |
| Xander Payload? | 1.003 | 0.456 |
| Central Arizona CAC | 3.005 | 1.366 |
| KA7NSR-7 445.925 | 0.873 | 0.397 |
| UA | 2.750 | 1.250 |
| ADS-B Transponder ANSR134 | 2.495 | 1.134 |
| ASU | 2.297 | 1.044 |
| Total Wgt | 18.830 | 8.559 |
| Overfill Factor | 1.300 | 1.300 |
| Fill Total | 24.479 | 11.127 |
| ANSR-135 ASCEND-42 | ||
| ANSR-135 / ASCEND-42 | lbs. | kg. |
| Parachute, Cord, Clips | 3.000 | 1.364 |
| KA7NSR-8 144.34 | 0.500 | 0.227 |
| GCC-Icarus | 1.439 | 1.250 |
| GCC-Space Force | 1.536 | 0.698 |
| PIMA | 1.993 | 0.906 |
| KA7NSR-9 445.925 | 0.800 | 0.364 |
| ERAU | 2.438 | 1.108 |
| Crossband Repeater - uplink 145.56 (162.2), downlink 445.525 | 1.000 | 0.455 |
| ADS-B Transponder ANSR135 | 2.644 | 1.202 |
| Phoenix College ** Bottom ** 5 gig ubiquity | 2.974 | 1.352 |
| Total Wgt | 18.323 | 8.329 |
| Overfill Factor | 1.300 | 1.300 |
| Fill Total | 23.820 | 10.827 |
Support Plan
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ANSR-134/135 ASCEND-41/42 Fall Flight Support Plan |
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Assignment |
Driver Name |
Rider Name |
Callsign |
Notes: |
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ANSR-134/135 ASCEND-41/42 Spring Flight Support Plan |
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Launch Director, Chase Lead Balloon 1, APRS Digipeater |
Stephen Thomas |
KE7TLS |
mobile iGate |
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Launch Support, Chase Baloon 1 |
Tavi Lamas |
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Launch Support, Chase Baloon 1 |
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Launch Support, Chase Baloon 1 |
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Launch Support, Chase |
Xander Pickard |
Phillip Nielsen |
KE0LTM |
payload on first balloon |
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Pre-Deploy |
Jack Crabtree |
W7JLC |
ADSB Tracking |
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Pre-Deploy |
Bill Burkett |
Debbie Burkett |
KE7IXS / KE7VWN |
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Launch Support, Chase Lead Balloon 2, APRS Digipeater |
Clayton Jacobs |
KJ6QJS |
Equipment Trailer |
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Launch Support, Chase Balloon 2 |
Athena Gibbons |
Paul Gibbons |
AI7AP |
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Launch Support, Chase Balloon 2 |
Tim Munsil |
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Launch Support, Chase Balloon 2 |
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Launch, Chase Trailer |
Randy Peckinpaugh |
WB0SMX |
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Pre-Deploy |
NA |
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Pre-Deploy,Recovery Area, APRS Tracking |
Bryson Hinton |
KC7LED |
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FAA Liason, GIS |
Bob Shipton |
n/a |
K8EQC |
NOTAM, FAA liaison, GIS, Route Assist |
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Ground Station Flight Predictions |
Bob Thompson |
n/a |
KC8BOB |
Flight Predictions |
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NOTAM: ANSR-134/135 Launch @ 09:00 a.m.local/1600 UT ANSR-135: GBN 11/137 |
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Alternate Repeater: Sacaton 447.725 Mhz (-) 100.00 |
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Chase Teams monitor Simplex Frequency: 145.56 MHz |
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Balloon Repeater: Input: 145.56 (162.2 PL) Output: 445.525 |
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Balloon beacon frequencies: KA7NSR-6, 144.34 ; KA7NSR-7, 445.925; CW on 147.515 KA7NSR-8, 144.34 ; KA7NSR-9, 445.925; CW on 147.515 |
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Beacon your location on 144.390 MHz only, not on payload beacon frequencies |
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BE SAFE! |
Sat morning around 10 am and 1030 am ANSR flights 134 & 135 were launched successfully from the side of the road off AZ-85 approx 12 miles south of I-8 and Gila bend, AZ. Both flights were observed off and on all the way to burst.ANSR-134 burst at 103,670 ft and ANSR-135 burst at 102,303 ft. ANSR-135 climbed at a faster rate than ANSR-134. The ADS-B for ANSR-134 worked shortly after liftoff but then stopped working. Upon recovery it was discovered that the battery in the case had shifted during flight and pulled the power pole connector apart. ADSB-B for 135 worked all the way. Both balloons were recovered successfully with 134 going more than 20 mile East of the predicted landing area. Chase teams for 134 did end up being able to drive to within a short .2 mile hike to recover. While 135 did land closer to the preflight predictions it ended up in a place that was difficult to get too so ANSR team members had to work their way into it while ASCEND teams waitied. Once both balloons were recovered most of the teams met up at Heritage Park in Florence to do a post flight tag up. We wrapped up the day around 3pm. Thank you again to everyone who helped to support the flights and make them successful.
Stephen Thomas
ANSR, VP
KE7TLS