Neumayer Station

November 23rd 2022, AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

We have a new balloon we’re tracking, KD9UQB for our team member Jim Janiak. Jim designed this solar panel made with plastic film, shaped as a vertical cylinder to catch the sun’s lower elevation for the launch in Antarctica.

Jim Janiak KD9UQB solar panel design for Pico Balloon W5KUB-115

Pico Balloon KD9UQB was launched on November 23rd at 08:22 UTC from Neumayer Station III, Ekstroem Ice Shelf, Atka Bay, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

Neumayer Station III, Antarctica

To make it easier to track Jim’s Pico Balloon, we’re tracking our 3 balloons on one page of the world using APRS.

AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB on the combined APRS link Tracking AA6DY, K9YO and KD9UQB (W5KUB-115) on APRS this link is on our Locate and Track page with our other tracking links.

Below is a slideshow with Jim Janiak, KD9UQB teaching our group how to make our solar panel packages. Jim is working on our winter solar panel design using the polycrystalline solar panels. We’re looking forward to our upcoming Pico Balloon launch for Gordie KD9TVR and Kelsi KE9LSI, our youngest Generals.

  • Jim KD9UQB, Gordie KD9TVR, Doug, KD9TPM, Kelsi KE9LSI, and Mikaela KD9VIW During our Build the Solar Panel Package
  • Gordie KD9TVR and Doug KD9TPM working together
  • Noah KD9RDT soldering his solar panel, Cary KD9ITO in the background
  • Mikaela KD9VIW, testing the voltage assisted by Doug KD9TPM
  • Gordie Mulley KD9TVR, showing off the built Solar Panel Package
  • Testing 4.05 volts with a 7 solar panel package
  • Kelsi Mulley KE9LSI, Doug Mulley KD9TPM and Gordie Mulley KD9TVR testing the voltage

Pico Balloon AA6DY hasn’t reported today. We’re expecting AA6DY to travel towards Central Africa over the next several days with data from our last NOAA Hysplit model.

Pico Balloon K9YO which was having some difficulty tracking, woke yesterday over Minnesota making the 3rd circumnavigation around the world. K9YO reported today at 13:00 UTC at Grid GN15MW just south of the St. Pierre and Miquelon Territory of France, which is south of Newfoundland. Pico Balloon K9YO reported at an altitude of 12,480 meters, 40,934 feet.

K9YO at Grid GN15MW, altitude 40,934 feet

Our “Best Guess” For Pico Balloon K9YO around November 27th 2022, is Ukraine

Best Guess for K9YO around November 27th 2022

Our Locate and Track page has been updated with our tracking links for NOAA, Ventusky, APRS and images. Added to our Technical Page is how to Calculate the Altitude of our balloons.

November 20th 2022, AA6DY and K9YO

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

Now that we have a Pico Balloon flying over the southern hemisphere, we are sharing some company with the balloons being launched from Neumayer Station III on the Ekstroem Ice Shelf, Atka Bay, Antarctica

While we’re looking for our 2nd packets, at around 14,000 meters, we’re tracking balloons at 28,000 meters. If we’re flying around 46,000 feet, there’s something flying out there at 92,000 feet.

It looks like we’re seeing a new launch today from Neumayer Station at 05:52, 50 meters then 15:04 1,090 meters, rising slowly. I haven’t seen a callsign yet for this balloon, but we’ll be watching closely.

Let’s start with the southern hemisphere…..

Pico Balloon AA6DY which has been enjoying travels over South America, woke on November 20th at 11:14 UTC at Grid GI22MT, over Bau, Brazil. AA6DY has been heading northeast, at 13,900 meters, 45,592 feet.

AA6DY at Grid GI22MT, Bau Brazil, 45,592 feet

Our “Best Guess” is that Pico Balloon AA6DY will be staying in the southern hemisphere, arriving south of Ghana, West Africa and approaching Gabon over Central Africa by November 24th 2022.

AA6DY Best Guess for November 24th 2022

Lauched on September 3rd 2022, Pico Balloon AA6DY is now on the 78th day of flight and on the 4th lap arround the world. We still have some daylight flying time and will update our NOAA model later today for any changes in direction. the Locate and Track page has been updated for 84 hour NOAA Hysplit Trajectory, Ventusky, APRS and Sodehub for Pico Balloon AA6DY.

Pico Balloon K9YO has been enjoying the northern hemisphere on a fast track, K9YO woke on November 19th at 20:00 UTC at Grid BN35JS just south of Alaska over the North Pacific Ocean, flying at an altitude of 12,660 meters, 41,525 feet.

K9YO at Grid BN35JS altitude 41,525 feet

Just like the 2nd lap around the world, Pico Balloon K9YO will be making the fast track across the United States with our “Best Guess” south of Newfoundland over the North Atlantic Ocean around November 23rd 2022.

K9YO Best Guess around November 24th 2022

Pico Balloon K9YO is preparing to make the 3rd Circumnavigation around the world around November 22nd 2022 according to the NOAA Hysplit Model. Pico Balloon K9YO launched on October 10th 2022, has now been flying for 40 days and will soon be tracking in the same time zone as AA6DY, I’m looking forward to that.

All of our maps and tracking information for our balloons and for Pico Balloons flying around the world can be found on our Locate and Track page. Please feel free to share our site with anyone who may be interested, we welcome all followers. Followers are free to comment directly on posts, if anyone has any questions, please feel free to email me clicking on “Contact Us” on our website or finding me on QRZ, 73, Cary KD9ITO