Launch of Pico Balloon K9YO-22, October 3rd 2025

October 7, 2025 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO

We gathered for the launch of Pico Balloon K9YO-22 on Friday October 3rd 2025 in Libertyville, Illinois. The tracker didn’t report until the next day over Nashville, Tennessee. Now 4 days later, our balloon is near Europe. This isn’t the 22nd launch of K9YO, we use a number after the callsign to help track our balloon which will be described below.

The current flight information will be updated daily on our Locate and Track page, feel free to bookmark this page.

Pico Balloon K9YO-22 asleep at 17:28 UTC

This is the last report of Pico Balloon K9YO-22 before going to sleep. The track starts near Nashville Tennessee on October 4th. The Gridsquare HI51hi tells us the last reported location. The code QF8DHI gives us additional information, the second letter “F” tells us it’s getting 5 volts of power, the letter after the number in this case “D” shows the tracker is actually getting 5.3 volts. B=1, C=2, D=3, E=4, F=5 etc. The track shows red when it’s reporting, green when asleep or not reporting if there are no amateur radio stations receiving and reporting.

Our balloon last reported flying at 12,480 meters or 40,944 feet in altitude, flying at 134 miles per hour. The time showing 12:28 is our local time, Central Daylight Time. In UTC, the balloon last reported at 17:28 UTC (5 hours ahead of CDT)

Below is the projected trajectory over the next 84 hours. The different colors represent 10 different altitudes in 20 meter increments. This is from the Sondehub site, Float link, described below.

Pico Balloon K9YO-22 Projected Trajectory from October 7th 2025 thru October 11th 2025

Throughout this post we will have links in blue to help you navigate our website and the links we use to track our balloon. We will be able to see how many people received and opened this email and have clicked on various links to show us your areas of interest. We won’t know who clicks on a link.

We are the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade, formed on June 9th 2021, We build and launch Pico Balloons as part of the amateur radio hobby, our home page is https://nibbb.org/

On our website you can read about our project with pictures through the years. I added a webpage to highlight special projects from our Blog which can be found here Highlights of the NIBBB

Once you get to our home page you’ll be able to follow our project, and learn how to build and launch Pico Balloons.

This is the first time we’re flying our newest in-house designed NIBBB tracker and solar panel package. For this launch the tracker was modified with a supervisor chip to help regulate the voltage before transmitting (pictured below). Our future NIBBB trackers will have a supervisor chip built in.

This tracker is launched vertically with the solar panel package sitting on the tracker like a hat, two solder joints connect the solar panel package to the tracker. With the added supervisor chip and wires, the total package of tracker, solar panels, and 33′ dipole antennas weighed in at 18 grams.

The balloon is a 32″ diameter silver SAG balloon purchased from Balloons Online. The balloon was pre-stretched to 32″ by Ken Daniel prior to the flight. We used Helium filled to lift 18 grams plus an additional 6 grams of free lift.

The solar panels are polycrystalline cells each 2″ x 3/4″ in size. We’re using 8 cells for this solar panel package. We were so concerned about the safe launch of this solar panel package, that Jim Janiak, NE9JJ designed a device to hold the tracker off the ground with a wireless release when the winds were calm. Luckily we were launching in very mild winds, Jim was ready to deploy the tracker launcher (name pending). Look for the upcomming video of Jim demonstrating his tracker launcher.

To get our package to the launch site safely, Michael Seedman, AA6DY is using a coffee can with the plastic lid cutout to hold the tracker/solar panel package in place, and a cardboard flap to hold the coffee can and antennas.

Below are pictures from the build and launch

Ken Daniel, K9YO wating with the balloon — Ken Daniel, K9YO

Joining us for the launch were Ken Daniel K9YO, Michael Seedman AA6DY, Stewart Spies KB9LM, Jim Janiak NE9JJ, Cary Willis KD9ITO, Don Whiteman KK9H and David Detelfsen K9EAD

With everything in place here are pictures of the launch

Traacker and Solar Panel package in flight — Balloon and Tracker package in flight

For tracking our balloon we use several websites that are available on the Locate and Track page of our website. For your easy viewing we have the links below and an explanation of each link.

Sondehub Balloon Tracker To follow all Pico Balloons flying around the world
K9YO-22 APRS.fi To see where our balloon is reporting, the altitude, and the travel over the last 7 days of flight. Click on the balloon to open the info page as seen above.
K9YO-22 on Sondehub similar to the sondehub link above, this will only show K9YO-22. On the left hand side you will see information on this balloon, click on Floats to see where the balloon is headed (Projected Trajectory) over the next 84 hours. Click on Plots to see more data received on this balloon and if you really think this project is cool, you can click on Share which will allow you to share the page by email
K9YO on WSPR Spot Database To see the Amateur Radio stations that report on our location and the distance from their station to our balloons location by km and miles
National Hurricane Center Weather systems over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that may affect the direction of our balloon’s travel
K9YO-22 on lu7aa site Provides more detailed and interactive information on our balloon with additional links. Click on 12 Km winds will open Ventusky which will show the Jetstream at the altitude and location of our balloon. Zoom out, hover your mouse over the area to see the wind speed. Clicking on play will fast forward the jetstream over the hours and days. You can also get other weather information all over the world. This site also shows other Pico Balloons by callsign.

Please play around with these various links, and share with people you know.

To be added as a follower of the NIBBB and recieve these posts when published, send me an email at this link Contact Us or find me on QRZ

We are now flying over darkness and not transmitting. With the current wind speed at 120 mph, we should expect a wakeup in about 8 hours.

We have so many people to thank for supporting our program and our Pico Balloon hobby.

To Douglas Malnati, KD2KDD and for his continued support for the Pico Balloon worldwide Community. For information on his Traquito project please visit https://traquito.github.io/

When we first started our NIBBB project in 2021 we followed his site https://www.picoballoons.net/ by Doug Malnati KD2KDD and Mark Malnati KN4IUD

Please share your comments and questions,

73, Cary KD9ITO

April 13th 2023, Launching Pico Balloons KD9WNU and KD9WVO and update for NE9JJ-2

April 14, 2024May 27, 2024 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO

We launched two balloons on Saturday April 13th 2024 from Willow Hill Golf Course in Northbrook, IL, for our two newest team members, Janet Knowles, KD9WVO and her son Calvin, KD9WNU. Calvin is a 7th grader and member of the Central School Amateur Radio Club in Glencoe, Illinois.

Janet and Cal have been active in the NIBBB since February of 2023 and together wrote our Blog Post https://nibbb.org/2024/01/31/the-stretchinator-hasta-la-vista-balloon/ The Stretchinator session was taught by our team member Stewart Spies, KB9LM also an Elmer to Calvin.

For these launches we used the Zachtek trackers which Janet and Cal built in two sessions with Ken Daniel, K9YO at their October 14th and 28th 2023 build sessions pictured on our Home page https://nibbb.org/

After the build, the trackers were then sent to Stewart KB9LM for testing. For this launch we are testing a new balloon from the Yokohama Balloon company in Yokohama, Japan. Yokohama is a favorite among the Pico Balloon community and recently they started selling a valveless balloon. When we fill a balloon for launch, we use just enough gas to lift the package plus a little more for free lift.

The partially filled balloon’s valve doesn’t close fully until the balloon reaches full altitude. To make sure the gas doesn’t escape prior to launch, we used Kapton tape over the valve opening. With a valveless balloon we’re able to heat seal the balloon after filling and then Kapton tape to secure the package to the balloon.

For this flight, Pico Balloon KD9WVO we used a valveless Yokohama balloon stretched to a circumference of 102 inches. Pico Balloon KD9WNU we used a valved Yokohama Balloon stretched to a circumference of 100 inches. During the flight, we’ll be able to see the difference in altitude.

Pictured below is the group assisting in our launch

Back Row left to right; Jim Janiak NE9JJ, Michael Seedman AA6DY, Cary Willis KD9ITO, Douglas Mulley KD9TPM and Stewart Spies KB9LM. Front Row, left to right; Janet Knowles KD9WVO, Leeloo Knowles, Calvin Knowles KD9WNU, Gordie Mulley KD9TVR, Kyli Mulley and Kelsi Mulley KE9LSI.

Pico Balloon KD9WVO, launched at 15:43 UTC, slideshows below

Michael Seedman, and Stewart Spies, preparing the balloon
In the group Gordie and Cal both 7th graders, Janet holding the balloon assisted by Jim Janiak
Michael, and Stewart unrolling the antenna, and monofilament line, Doug holding the tracker and lower antenna
Janet releasing the balloon
Nice easy lift
Balloon and tracker released
Balloon and Tracker Launched

Pico Balloon KD9WNU, launched at 16:00 UTC, slideshow below

In the group Cal holding the balloon, from the left, Jim, Doug, Stewart, Cal, Leeloo, Janet and Gordie
Cal preparing to release his balloon
Balloon is released
Tracker is released
Balloon and Tracker is flying

Below, Pico Balloon KD9WVO launched at 15:43 UTC, is now asleep at Grid EM98ua at 22:54 UTC, West Virginia, flying for 7 hours and and 11 minutes, at an altitude of 41,535 feet. For this launch we used a valveless Yokohama balloon, stretched to 102 inches.

Below, Pico Balloon KD9WNU launched at 16:00 UTC, is now asleep at Grid EM99CB, at 22:24 UTC, West Virginia, for 6 hours and 24 minutes of flying at an altitude of 40,485 feet. For this launch we used a valved Yokohama balloon stretched to 100 inches.

Pico Balloon KD9WVO on day 2 awake on April 14th 2024 at Grid FM75aa, flying at an altitude of 41,141 feet, after flying for 20 hours and 21 minutes

Pico Balloon KD9WNU on day 2 awake on April 14th 2024 at Grid FM75cl, flying at an altitude of 40,485 feet, after flying for 20 hours and 4 minutes

Below is the NOAA Hysplit for Pico Balloon KD9WVO and Pico Balloon KD9WNU for April 15th 2024 thru April 18th 2024 projection to Krakow, Poland April 18th 2024

Pico Balloon NE9JJ-2 which was launched on March 2nd 2024 is awake at Grid DK47fr, flying for 42 days and 19 hours, preparing for the 4th Circumnavigation around the world on April 16th 2024.

Pico Balloon NE9JJ-2 at Grid DK47fr after 42 days and 19 hours of flight

Below is the Hysplit for Pico Balloon NE9JJ-2 from April 15th 2024 thru April 18th 2024, heading towards The Gambia, West Africa

Please bookmark for updates to our website of our home page https://nibbb.org/ and daily updates for current balloons in flight on our Locate and Track page

We are tracking all our balloons together on APRS as seen below from our Locate and Track page or click here; Pico Balloons; NE9JJ-2, KD9WVO-11 and KD9WNU-11 on APRS

Pico Balloon NE9JJ-2 approaching Mexico. Pico Balloon KD9WVO and Pico Balloon KD9WNU launched 15 minutes apart are flying close together over the North Atlantic Ocean.

73, Cary KD9ITO

January 27th 2023, Pico Balloon K9YO, Returns

January 27, 2023December 21, 2023 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

Pico Balloon K9YO was missing in action after last reporting December 26th, 2022 after the 5th Circumnavigation and 76 days and 23 hours of flight. We were hoping for the best for a safe return.

On January 26th 2023 K9YO came back and reported at Grid ON25LL over Mongolia at 03:08 zulu.

It was Ken Daniel, K9YO that alerted our team that Pico Balloon K9YO reported just passing Japan on January 27th 2023 and asleep at Grid QN74LL at 04:08 zulu.

We did an 84 hour NOAA Hysplit Trajectory seeing a move over the North Pacific Ocean towards Alaska, but waiting for today’s report to confirm.

After 109 days and 5 hours Pico Balloon K9YO has reported on January 27th at Grid AO01LL at 22:38 Zulu flying at an altitude of 12,000 meters

Pico Balloon K9YO reporting Grid AO01LL January 27th 2023 now flying for 109 Days and 5 hours

The 84 hours NOAA Hysplit Trajectory is showing Pico Balloon K9YO heading north into darkness and over Canada preparing for another circumnavigation around January 31st, 2023

Our Locate and Track page has been updated for Pico Balloon K9YO and Pico Balloon KD9UQB with the 84 hour NOAA Hysplit as seen above, Ventusky for windspeed and direction, and APRS for the world view for both our balloons. We’ll continue to follow these balloons and will update the Locate and Track page.

Also, our Technical Team has updated our website with information on how to build our solar panel packages. These pages are still a work in progress, please visit https://nibbb.org/standard-solar-array-instructions-and-bill-of-materials/

The Low Sun-High Power solar panel is being used on our Pico Balloon KD9UQB for Antarctica with build pictures coming soon, please visit Power Solar Panels

Welcome back to our Pico Balloon K9YO now reporting on January 28th 2023, at Grid AO12bv, 00:20 zulu.

73, Cary KD9ITO

January 16th 2023, KD9UQB, 4th Circumnavigation

January 16, 2023January 26, 2023 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

Pico Balloon KD9UQB was launched from Neumayer Station III, Grid IB59UI, Antarctica, on November 24th 2022. After 53 days and 1 hour of flight, Pico Balloon KD9UQB made its 4th Circumnavigation around the world.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB had reached Grid ID65LE at 07:32 UTC flying at an altitude of 10,840 meters, 35,566 feet, completing the 4th Circumnavigation around the world.

With several more hours of sunlight and flying north over warmer temperatures. Pico Balloon KD9UQB has been reaching altitudes of 11,100 meters.

The 84 hour NOAA Hysplit Trajectory model and Ventusky shows Pico Balloon KD9UQB traveling in a faster Jetstream arriving south of New Zealand around January 20th 2023.

“Best Guess” Pico Balloon KD9UQB around January 20th 2023, Grid RC54HJ

Our Locate and Track page has been updated for Pico Balloon KD9UQB showing the 84 hour NOAA Trajectory, Ventusky for windspeed and direction, and APRS for current location on the world map. The WSPR Spot Database updates automatically. We are seeing Radio Station KFS reporting at 09:22 UTC from Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco California, 15,137 Km or 9,406 miles from our balloon.

Also on our Locate and Track page is the Sondehub link showing all Pico Balloons in flight around the world. Below is from Sondehub showing the past 3 day path and forward projected path based on different altitudes.

Sondehub Float showing past 3 day path and forward projection of Pico Balloon KD9UQB

Congratulations to the NIBBB Team, and many thanks to our followers.

73, Cary KD9ITO

January 14th 2023, KD9UQB, Falkland Islands

January 14, 2023January 16, 2023 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

How time flies when you’re having fun. Pico Balloon KD9UQB has moved a little north enjoying more scenery. Pico Balloon KD9UQB reported on January 14th, 20:04 UTC at Grid GD08EN, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic archipelago. KD9UQB is now enjoying an altitude of 10,900 meters, 35,752 feet and flight time of 51 days and 13 hours.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB at Grid GD08EN, altitude 35,752 feet

We’re expecting Pico Balloon KD9UQB to circumnavigate the world a 4th time around January 16th 2023, at 15:00 UTC.

The 84 hour NOAA Hysplit model shows Pico Balloon KD9UQB continuing around Antarctica passing Heard Island and McDonald Islands around January 18th 2023 at 06:00 UTC near Grid ND38tt

Best Guess Pico Balloon KD9UQB, January 18th 2023, Grid ND38tt

Our Locate and Track page is updated at least once a day for the 84 hour NOAA Hysplit model showing the projected path at altitude. The Ventusky link shows the wind speed and direction, and APRS for current location on the world map. The Sondehub link shows all Pico Balloons in flight around the world. The WSPR Spot Database updates automatically with every 1st packet received, showing among other data, the reporting station and their distance to our balloon.

The WSPR Spot Database is showing that on January 14th 2023 at 11:52 UTC, Seto, JA5NVN received our signal at a distance of 17,201 Km or 10,688 miles. Thank you Seto for finding our balloon.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB is flying with a low sun-high power solar panel package operating on 20mW, or .02 watts. The actual solar panel and tracker used for this flight is shown on our Locate and Track page in the Pico Balloon KD9UQB section.

73, Cary KD9ITO

January 9th, 2023 KD9UQB flying around Antartica

January 8, 2023January 16, 2023 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

It’s been a while since I posted. Pico Balloon KD9UQB is flying south of Australia, altitude 10,360 meters, 33,981 feet, flight time, 45 days and 19 hours. Spending time south of the Day/Night Change Line will allow for more reporting time.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB January 9th 2023, 02:34 UTC at Gid PC80UO, 33,981 feet

The 84 hour NOAA Hysplit model shows Pico Balloon KD9UQB spending another day south over Antarctica then heading back over the Southern Ocean preparing for the 4th Circumnavigation.

“Best Guess” Pico Balloon KD9UQB, January 12th 2023, Grid CB08AA

We use the Northern Tip of Antarctica as a landmark for circumnavigation. Neumayer Station III is located between South America and Africa at Grid IB59ui.

Just north of the tip are a set of Islands, and Fun Facts

The Machu Picchu Scientific Base is a Peruvian polar scientific research facility in Antarctica, established to conduct Antarctic research on geology, climatology and biology. Wikipedia

King George Island is the largest of the South Shetland Islands, lying 120 km off the coast of Antarctica in the Southern Ocean. The island was named after King George III. Wikipedia

Elephant Island is an ice-covered, mountainous island off the coast of Antarctica in the outer reaches of the South Shetland Islands, in the Southern Ocean. Wikipedia

Elephant Island, Antarctica, is named after the elephant seals that make their home there (as well as for its elephant-like shape). The island is located 150 miles off the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, in the outer reaches of the South Shetland Islands. Covered in ice and towering above the surrounding Southern Ocean, it’s truly a sight to behold. https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-us/expeditions/stories/elephant-island-facts/

The Flight of Pico Balloon KD9UQB is updated at least daily on our Locate and Track page. Clicking on APRS will show the current location along with the last known locations of Pico Balloons K9YO and AA6DY. Ventusky will show the wind speed and direction, by hovering your computer mouse over the map. The NOAA link shows the projected 84 hour balloon travel in 6 hour increments of time. The WSPR Spot Database updates with every 1st packet report received showing the 4 Grid Maidenhead, location of reporter, distance from the reporter to our Balloon and altitude in dBm and Watts.

Our Technical Page provides additional information on Tracking our Balloons, Calculating Altitude, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR part 101), Finding the Right Balloons and Gas, pictures of our two Solar Panel packages (Horizontal Polyscrystilline on Styrofoam and Low-Sun High Power Cylinder) and our Tracker and Antenna package for Pico Balloon AA6DY getting ready to launch.

We’re still preparing for our next launches of Pico Balloons KD9TVR and KE9LSI our youngest Generals, so stay tuned.

We’re liking your Likes and Comments!

73, Cary KD9ITO

December 26th 2022, Happy Boxing Day, KD9UQB and 5th Circumnavigation of K9YO

December 26, 2022December 31, 2022 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

What a great way to celebrate our Holidays.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB was first to report on December 26th at 12:42 UTC after last reporting on December 19th. Pictured below at 13:22 UTC Grid CD10BC at 10,480 meters 34,374 feet, and nearing a 3rd circumnavigation around the world on January 1st 2023.

We are predicting Pico Balloon KD9UQB will be near the Falkland Islands around December 30th 2022

Pico Balloon KD9UQB near the Falkland Islands around December 30th 2022

Pico Balloon K9YO was last heard on December 20th over Russia and believed to be heading towards the North Pole. Pico Balloon K9YO was launched on October 10th 2022 from Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville, Illinois. Now after 76 days and 23 hours of flight, Pico Balloon K9YO has made the Fifth Cicumnavigation around the world.

Our first report of Pico Balloon K9YO came from our WSPR Spot Database on December 26th at 15:48 UTC at Grid EN78 near Dubreuilville, Ontario Canada. Pico Balloon K9YO is flying at an altitude of 12,180 meters, 39,950 feet.

Pico Balloon K9YO Fifth Circumnavigation December 26th 2022, altitude 39,950 feet

Best Guess for Pico Balloon K9YO on December 30th 2022, Grid KQ51DH

Best Guess, Pico Balloon K9YO, December 30th 2022, Grid KQ51DH

Our Locate and Track page is now updated for Pico Balloons KD9UQB and K9YO for APRS, Sondehub, 84 hour NOAA Hysplit Model, WSPR Spot Database and Ventusky for tracking wind speed and direction. The WSPR Spot Database provides realtime tracking of all our balloons.

73, Cary KD9ITO

December 19th 2022, K9YO and KD9UQB

December 19, 2022December 23, 2022 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

After a few days of silence, K9YO reported on December 19th at 01:30 UTC at Grid PN64HA near Vladivostok, Russia, at an altitude of 11,900 meters, 39,032 feet. K9YO is now at 69 days and 11 hours of flight time. The NOAA Hysplit model shows K9YO heading east then northwest over 84 hours. The Sondehub Float shows K9YO heading east. We should see another reading tomorrow and will update our Locate and Track page

K9YO at Grid PN64HA altitdue 39,032 feet

Pico Balloon KD9UQB has been close to the Day/Night Change Line with longer wake times. Reporting below at Grid NC21LV at 14:14 UTC December 19th 2022. Pico Balloon KD9UQB is flying at an altitude of 10,600 meters, 34,768 feet, for 25 days and 8 hours of total flight time.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB Best Guess location on December 23rd, 00:00 UTC Grid OC88aa

KD9UQB Best Guess December 23rd Grid OC88aa

Tracking our balloons on one page using APRS for December 19th

K9YO near Sea of Japan, KD9UQB Antarctica, (AA6DY missing since November 24th)

Our Locate and Track page has been updated for Pico Balloons K9YO and KD9UQB for APRS, Ventusky for wind speed and direction, 84 hour NOAA Hysplit model, Sondehub for tracking Float direction and other Pico Balloons around the world.

It may be a few days between posts, the Locate and Track page will be updated as new information is received. We encourage you to check this page and the links available for tracking all our balloons.

73, Cary KD9ITO

December 14th 2022, KD9UQB 2nd Circumnavigation, K9YO awake over Russia

December 14, 2022December 16, 2022 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

Pico Balloon KD9UQB, launched on November 24th 2022 from Neumayer Station III, Antarctica, completed the 2nd Circumnavigation on December 14th after 20 days and 4 hours of flight. KD9UQB is flying at an altitude of 10,720 meters, 35,162 feet.

KD9UQB 2nd Circumnavigation December 14th 2022

Best Guess, KD9UQB December 17th 2022

Pico Balloon K9YO last reported on December 6th, making a 4th circumnavigation over Quebec Canada. We believed that K9YO stayed north of the Day/Night Change Line, traveling around the North Pole, we were waiting for K9YO to travel south. K9YO reported on December 14th at 02:10 UTC at Grid PN78XK near Khabarovsk, Russia at an altitude of 11,720 meters, 38,422 feet.

We believe K9YO will travel northwest on December 17th 2022

Our Locate and Track page has been updated for KD9UQB for 84 hour NOAA Hysplit, Ventusky for wind speed and direction, APRS and Sondehub.

73, Cary KD9ITO

December 11th 2022, K9YO and KD9UQB, Special addition CQ Ham Radio Magazine, Japan

December 11, 2022December 14, 2022 / Cary Willis, KD9ITO / Leave a comment

Pico Balloon K9YO had circumnavigated the world a 4th time on December 6th 2022. The NOAA Hysplit model showed K9YO traveling northwest, north of Alaska around December 10th. Another NOAA model was taken and showed K9YO traveling east around the North Pole. If that direction and location is correct, we won’t be hearing from Pico Balloon K9YO until it heads back south. Until then, we’re calling K9YO, Missing in Action.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB which was launched from Neumayer Station III, Antarctica had been traveling east, made a detour southwest to the South Pole and northwest towards the Southern Ocean.

Pico Balloon KD9UQB is south of the Day/Night Change Line and still transmitting. Below is from December 11th 2022 Grid HB62SS at 21:32 UTC flying for 17 days and 14 hours at an altitude of 10,600 meters, 34,768 feet.

We’re expecting Pico Balloon KD9UQB will make a 2nd Circumnavigation around December 13th.

Best Guess for KD9UQB on December 15th, 06:00 UTC

Best Guess for KD9UQB, December 15th 2022

Our Locate and Track page has been updated for the 84 hour NOAA Hysplit Model, Ventusky for wind speed and direction, APRS and Sonehub for Pico Balloon KD9UQB and all Pico Balloons in flight around the world.

We will report when we hear from Pico Balloon K9YO or AA6DY. The WSPR Spot Database always reports current reports for all our balloons.

We would like to recognize, Hisami Dejima, 7L4IOU an NIBBB Follower, who wrote an article for CQ Ham Radio Magazine, Japan, November 2022 Edition. This article is on the flight of AA6DY flying over Japan, transmitting on WSPR mode, the NIBBB project and our success with the 32″ Sphere balloon from Yokohama Balloon, Yokohama, Japan.

Below is a 2 page slide show of the cover page and article from CQ Ham Radio Magazine with QR codes linking to the NIBBB website and Yokohama Balloons.

Our Technical Page has information on tracking our balloons, calculating the altitude, where to get the balloons, and a slide show on the launch of Pico Balloon AA6DY on September 3rd 2022.

73, Cary KD9ITO