We’d like to welcome our new followers, here at the NIBBB. Since our last Stretchinator session we’ve launched two Pico Balloons. Ken Daniel, K9YO visited his Granddaughter’s 5th grade class at the First Presbyterian Academy in Greenville, South Carolina and presented our Pico Balloon project. It was at that session that the kids named their future balloon launch “Happy Cone”
We now have two Happy Cones. Pico Balloon K9YO-1 was launched on February 4th 2024 from Grayslake, Illinois using Ken’s newest tracker and a SAG balloon. This test tracker was transmitting on two different amateur radio frequencies with two different antennas, a first for us. The 20 meter WSPR band was using a 33 ft. Dipole antenna with the tracker package in the middle. The tracker was also transmitting on 2 meter APRS with a 40 inch guitar “G” string as the antenna horizontal from the tracker.
Pictured below is the tracker, solar panel and both antennas.
Happy Cone 1, Pico Balloon K9YO-1, made it’s first circumnavigation on February 14th after flying for 10 days. Today, February 21st 2024, Pico Balloon K9YO-1 has crossed the International Date Line for a 2nd time after 17 days and 2 hours of flight. This balloon was last flying at 44,422 feet and is expected to make its 2nd circumnavigation around February 24th.
Happy Cone 2, Pico Balloon KD9ITO-1, was launched on February 18th 2024 from Grayslake Illinois. For this tracker, we were using the ICT tracker and SAG balloon. Assisting in this launch were Ken Daniel K9YO, Gordie Mulley KD9TVR, Doug Mulley KD9TPM, Jim Janiak NE9JJ and Cary Willis KD9ITO. A 9 picture slide show of the launch is below
ICT tracker, 7 cell polycystalline solar panel and 33 ft Dipole Antenna 
Ken Daniel K9YO and Doug Mulley KD9TPM preparing the package and balloon 
32 inch partially filled SAG balloon waiting for launch 
Gordie, Jim, Ken and Doug preparing for launch 
Doug holding the balloon in place, Gordie holding the middle of the monofilament line and upper antenna 
Jim holding the lower antenna 
Doug releasing the balloon and Gordie releasing the line 
Ken running with the tracker package so it doesn’t touch the ground 
The Pico Balloon is launched
Pico Balloon KD9ITO-1 was launched late February 18th and didn’t report until the next morning, February 19th at Grid FN84, 12:02 UTC near Nova Scotia, Canada. Pico Balloon KD9ITO-1 was flying at an altitude of 12,850 meters, 42,148 feet.
Pico Balloon KD9ITO-1 went to sleep on February 19th 2024 at Grid GN86ET at 18:22 UTC just east of St Pierre and Miquelon and south of Greenland. Below is the projected trajectory over 84 hours. While we’re waiting for Pico Balloon KD9ITO-1 to report, for now its Missing in Action.
To track our balloons, please go to our Locate and Track page. This page will be updated with current locations and projected trajectories. You’ll also find links for APRS and Sondehub for tracking all Pico Balloons flying around the world.
We invite you to visit our home page for current NIBBB projects NIBBB Home Page and our Blog as well as our other pages for builds on the menus at the top of our webpage. Our new webpage Header shows both Pico Balloon KD9ITO-1 and Pico Balloon K9YO-1 with other balloons around the world.
We’re also preparing for our other member’s launches and new tracker with a weather sensor so stay tuned.
73, Cary KD9ITO
Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade 