Willow Hill Golf Course

September 21st, 19th Day, Between Honolulu Hawaii and Los Angeles, California

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AA6DY woke at 17:12 UTC, 12:12 pm CDT at Grid BM78QJ flying at 14,160 meters, 46,400 feet.

After spending so much time over the North Pacific Ocean, it’s finally nice to see land. It still looks like our general direction will be southeast for today, then start to move northeast later this evening. The updated NOAA Hysplit Trajectory model for 84 hours is below.

Grid BM78qj Altitude14,160 meters, 46,400 feet

This is the part that will make for an interesting conversation amongst our group. Below is the NOAA Hysplit Trajectory model, the star is where we are as seen above. Looks like we’ll be waking up close to Santa Rosa California on September 23rd near the end of the day. As we travel over the western United States, we may be dropping in altitude to 12,000 meters, that’s still close to 40,000 feet and may only be a temporary drop.

We now have a nice following in this group, please feel free to comment and put your predictions in. Our Links to Locate and Track has been updated for your tracking pleasure.

September 20th, Day 18, North of Maui, Hawaii

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

AA6DY woke at Grid BM22IV at 18:12 UTC, 1:12 pm CDT north of Maui, Hawaii. Our current altitude has been steady at 14,240 meters, 46,700 feet. Our general direction for today and tomorrow will be southeast.

Grid BM22IV 18:12 UTC North of Hawaii

Below is the NOAA Hysplit Trajectory model over 84 hours bringing us close to the California Coast by September 24th. The star is where we are, the larger triangles represent a new day in UTC starting at 00:00, the smaller triangles represent 6 hour increments in UTC, our altitude will remain steady.

We will continue to monitor our position and update our Links to Locate and Track tab with any changes.

Please click here Links to Locate and Track tab has been updated and all links are current.

September 18th, day 16, North Pacific

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AA6DY woke at Grid AL18BO at 19:32 UTC, 2:32 PM CDT at 14,160 meters or 46,400 feet in altitude. We’ve been receiving both packets during this leg of our trip but from only 3 reporting stations, two in California and one in Australia. Our visitors to our website find us by looking up the balloon we’re flying. Today we had visitors from Spain and yesterday from Germany and Japan.

It’s hard to get a reference where we are, as we’ve been hanging out over the North Pacific Ocean for a while. From the image below, we woke up just northwest of Midway Atoll with Hawaii southeast of us at the bottom right of the image.

Grid AL18BO 19:32 UTC just Northwest of Midway Atoll

At the time of this writing, we are directly over Midway Atoll at 21:52 UTC. I like to give updates to our projected direction based on current altitude. For the rest of this evening and overnight we are expected to travel in a southeast direction. Around wakeup tomorrow, we’re expected to be traveling northeast at our same altitude, from the NOAA Hysplit Trajectory model below.

September 19th and Septmeber 20th, NOAA Hysplit Trajectory model

The Links to Locate and Track tab Locate and Track has been updated with current Jetstream, tracking Pico Balloons around the World and our tracking via APRS. Clicking on the Ventusky Jetstream will show that we may be headed to Los Angeles, I’ll be updating that information daily.

September 17th, day 15, AA6DY North Pacific

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

We had an early start today, AA6DY woke at Grid AM02ES at 19:22 UTC, 2:22 pm CDT. We are still flying high at 14,440 meters or 47,200 feet altitude. From the image below, you can see we’re at the International Date Line.

Our general direction will be south then east over Hawaii as seen in the Hysplit model below and maintaining our same altitude.

September 18th through September 19th 2022

Our Links to Locate and Track tab have been updated for Jestream and other data Locate and Track

We’re hoping when we start moving east again, we’ll be in a faster Jetstream. Meanwhile, we’re enjoying our flight.

September 9th, Day seven, AA6DY, 24th Launch, Happy Birthday Michael

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AA6DY woke at 8:22 UTC 3:22am CDT on September 9th at Grid IN47QD just west of France. Our altitude is 13,910 meters, 45,600 feet.

We’re moving into a Jetsream over 100 mph, below is the NOAA Hysplit Trajectory showing our projected path over 48 hours.

Looking back one year

The Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade started on June 9th 2021. After spending the summer researching Pico Balloons.

We launched our first Pico Balloon on September 25th 2021 in Glencoe Illinois, our first failure, Earlier Flights 2021 We came back one week later for our 2nd launch, Michael’s first balloon AA6DY on October 2nd 2021 which flew 376 Km from Central School in Glencoe Illinois to just northeast of Ionia Michigan having flown 7 hours and 45 minutes, our first successful flight.

And now one year later, our 24th Launch

AA6DY launched on September 3rd 2022, and now just west of France on September 9th 2022

We launched AA6DY for Michael Seedman on September 3rd 2022 at 13:30 UTC from Willow Hill Golf Course in Northbrook, Illinois. After several attempts, we’re finally successful flying a Yokohama Balloon, pre-stretched to 99 inches circumference by Stewart Spies KB9LM, we are now at 13,910 meters altitude.

And today, on September 9th 2022, we celebrate Michael’s birthday, AA6DY, our first balloon to reach 46,000 feet, survive a Hurricane, is on it’s way to France and around the world.

Happy Birthday Michael

September 8th Day six, AA6DY

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 3 Comments

AA6DY woke at Grid HN48ph at 9:52 UTC, 4:52 am CDT over the North Atlantic Ocean at an altitude of 13,910 meters. Danielle is now a Tropical Storm with sustained winds at only 70 mph and traveling at 14 mph.

Grid HN48ph at 9:52 UTC

The real good news is that we’re now in a faster Jetstream and will be flying towards land. The three images below, 1) Ventusky Jetstream showing easterly direction at 80 mph and higher towards France. 2) Windy.com showing cloud tops at 9Km starting September 10th at 5 am over France. 3) NOAA Hysplit Trajectory Model showing our balloon’s direction over 48 hours at 13.9Km

Ventusky.com Jetstream from September 9th 2022 81 mph towards France
From Windy.com showing Cloud Tops at 10Km over France September 10th 5am
48 hours NOAA Hysplit Model

The Links to Locate and Track tab has been updated for tomorrow’s Jetstream on Ventusky. APRS.fi for AA6DY will updated throughout the day and HabHub will show other balloons around the world, Enjoy!

September 6th Day four, AA6DY

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AA6DY woke at Grid GM58oa at 10:52 UTC, 5:52am CDT, altitude 13,850 meters. We’re still flying in a slow air mass. Hurricane Danielle is located just northeast of us. Will we stay to the south, or join up a little north, either way we’re catching a faster Jetstream.

Last report at 12:42 UTC Grid GM58qc we’re back at 13,910 meters. To track our balloon, go to Links to Locate and Track and click on APRS.fi AA6DY for AA6DY-15

From Ventusky.com Hurricane Danielle is located just northeast of Pico Balloon AA6DY

AA6DY at 30 mph, just southwest of Hurricane Danille

September 5th 2022 Day three, KD9UQB MIA, Tracking AA6DY

/ Cary Willis, KD9ITO / 1 Comment

We still haven’t heard from KD9UQB and will call it Missing in Action. AA6DY woke at 11:12 UTC, 6:12 am CDT, is in a slow moving pattern over the North Atlantic Ocean traveling around 30 mph. We expect based on the NOAA Hysplit Trajectory that we’ll be heading east for another day and then start heading northeast towards Ireland. Our altitude has been between 13,910 and 13,960 meters close to 46,000 feet, we also appear to be following near Hurricane Danielle.

AA6DY at Grid GM08SK North Atlantic Ocean 13,910 meters
Hurricane Danielle 5 day cone probable course

September 3rd 2022 Launch, KD9UQB and AA6DY

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We met this morning to launch two balloons, transmitting the call signs KD9UQB and AA6DY. We met at the highest mountain in the area – the Willow Hill Golf Course in Northbrook, IL. Assisting in our launch today were Michael Seedman AA6DY, Jim Janiak KD9UQB, Stewart Spies KB9LM, Doug Mulley KD9TPM, Kelsi Mulley KE9LSI, Gordie Mulley KD9TVR, Noah Berg KD9RDT, Bob Berg KD9RDU and Cary Willis KD9ITO.

We’re flying our latest board design version 2.2, manufactured in China by a contract manufacturer. After multiple attempts we’re successfuly flying a clear Yokohama Balloon reaching an altitude of 46,000 feet.

We had mild winds at ground level and gusty above. For this launch, we used the Icarus Device and 30 foot pole to get our tracker away from the ground at launch. The idea for the Icarus Device came from Noah Berg, KD9RDT (then 13 years old) at a group presentation in October of 2021. Noah suggested using a device to assist the balloons lift after losing some of our balloons in nearby trees. After months of discussing how something like this could work, Michael Seedman, AA6DY designed the Icarus using a small arduino based computer and a pico servo. Jim Janiak designed the 3D printed holder to couple the icarus to the pole. Since getting a 30′ pole in the car is a bit troublesome, Doug Mulley KD9TPM suggested using a telescoping pole which extends from 7 feet to 30 feet making it easy to transport and deploy.

  • The Icarus Device attached to the end of the 30 ft. pole
  • The 3D printed top of Pico Servo with lever
    The 3D printed top of Pico Servo with lever
  • The Icarus Device is a PCB switch and Pico Servo with a lever and timer to release the Balloon
    The Icarus Version 1.0 AA6DY/KD9RDT

Preparing KD9UQB for Launch

  • Jim Janiak KD9UQB and Michael Seedman AA6DY preparing the tracker for launch
  • KD9UQB Tracker package Tracker and Antenna tested on August 31st
  • KD9UQB Package is held up by 4 monofilament wires on the corners, attached to one in the middle to the balloon, the top antenna is secured to the wire to the balloon, the 16.5 foot bottom antenna makes this a complete Dipole Antenna
  • Michael is attaching the Balloon to the Icarus Device From Left to Right, Doug KD9TPM, Gordie KD9TVR, Michael AA6DY and Stewart KB9LM. Michael is attaching the balloon to the Icarus Device.
  • Kelsi KE9LSI securing the 30 ft pole ready for lift
  • Gordie KD9TVR is pressing the Icarus Device to start the 10 second timer, and Stewart KB9LM is holding the balloon
  • The Balloon is sitting on top of a 30 foot pole, counting down to 10 seconds for release
  • The Balloon and tracker has been released from the pole and floating freely
  • Nice and steady launch
  • Floating Steady

Preparing AA6DY for Launch

  • Michael preparing the AA6DY Board
  • Michael holding the package by the harness
  • Michael AA6DY is shorting the solar panel for a hard reset of the tracker
  • Doug, Michael, Gordie and Stewart preparing the Icarus Device and Pole
  • Doug, and Gordie on the Pole, Bob Berg KD9RDU and Noah Berg KD9RDT in the background
  • Kelsi KE9LSI securing the pole
  • Nice and steady launch
  • The Balloon and tracker has been released from the pole and floating freely

While we’re still waiting for KD9UQB to report, we’re very happy that our Yokohama balloon has reached 46,000 feet. We appear to be in a slow moving air mass over Michigan traveling around 35 mph.

Now that we know our altitude is steady at 14Km we can now provide a NOAA Hysplit Trajectory. We’ll be updating this while we’re watching Tropical Storm soon to be Hurricane Danielle.

NOAA Hysplit Trajectory 14Km from Michigan for 84 hours

September 1st 2022, Artemis and NIBBB, what we have in common

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As we reported in our last post, we were ready to launch two balloons last Saturday, August 27th. After completing the Board and getting ready for launch, Michael started testing the tracker and discovered it wasn’t working properly. The night before, we discovered our tracker was only transmitting one packet. We need both packets sent two minutes apart to receive the 6 Grid Maidenhead location, altitude and other data. Not having all the data we needed for a successful launch, we decided to scrub the launch until we could find the trouble.

On our last post we had shown our 3rd party manufactured tracker minus a few chips. Because of the chip shortage, it’s necessary for us to add some our own sourced chips. After spending time looking at the software as a possible issue, we suspected the problem to be a hardware issue. One of the substituted chips was the MS5351 Clock Generator. On our previous trackers, we were using the Skyworks Si5351, however, due to supply chain issues, we ordered the MS5351, thinking it was a plug-in replacement for the Skyworks chip. We found that the MS5351’s didn’t always work. After finding a board that failed consistently, we removed the MS5351 and replaced it with an original Skyworks chip, we retested, and we’re now back in business. We now have two working trackers for our next launch. We also ordered the Skyworks Si5351A-B-GT chips from Digikey to make sure our future trackers will work properly.

We also discovered during this down period, that the two Yokohama balloons that were prepared for last Saturday, were found to be leaking a small amount of gas – about 1g of lift per day. We were planning on using these pre-stretched and filled with the proper free lift gas for this Saturday’s launch. I suppose it was pure luck to discover the balloons had a small leak which would have lead to a failed launch, if we hadn’t scrubbed the launch.

After we discovered these failed balloons, Michael AA6DY and Stewart KB9LM of our Technical team had conference calls with Ken Daniel K9YO and with Tom Medlin W5KUB on our different balloons. Ken has been successful flying the SAG balloons and Tom, the Yokohama’s. While Stewart was able to get the process of pre-stretching and sealing from Ken, Tom shared that the failure rate of a Yokohama balloon was about 70%. While we’re not sure if that’s a failure from launch or cutting short the journey, Tom’s flight 112 has just circumnavigated the world and is currently flying on day 82 with a Yokohama balloon over Canada heading to the north pole.

We have several groups working together to prepare for a launch. After the Balloons, Tracker, Solar Panels and Antenna package are prepared, the last step before launch is to look at the weather and the Jetstream. It is now up to our Meteorological committee to determine whether we are good to go, which we now have.

Our Meteorological committee of Kelsi Mulley KE9LSI (our new General) and her Dad Doug Mulley KD9TPM are providing daily weather reports leading up to the launch. NOAA (National Oceanic and Athmospheric Administration) provides all our models from balloon location for all weather and trajectory. NOAA gives us updates on Hurricanes and Cyclones which may impact our launch as well as a Hysplit trajectory, which shows our projection of travel from a given altitude and location. We start with our launch location and projected altitude and create a model showing the projected path over a 48 or 84 hour period. The NOAA Hysplit Trajectory model takes into account the weather, pressure, and Jetstream, and adjusts the altitude and direction. During the flight this committee will update the Hysplit models.

We are now planning our next launch on Saturday September 3rd 2022 at Willow Hill Golf Course, 1350 Willow Rd. in Northbrook, IL. We will be launching two balloons, KD9UQB for Jim Janiak, and AA6DY for Michael Seedman, and now with the Go Ahead from our committee, we will be meeting at 8:30 am Saturday September 3rd.

So, what do we have in common with Artemis? We research, prepare and test, up to and throughout our launch.