The Do-It-Yourself

1
Amateur Near Space
Exploration

• The Do-It-Yourself
• Space Program

2
Topics

• Cost And Access To Space
• Near Space As An Alternative To Space

3
Cost And Access To Space

• Want To Send A Satellite Into Orbit?
• Building Costs
• Testing?
• Construction Time
• Launch Costs
• Telemetry Stations?
• Its More Of A Barrier Than An Opportunity

4
Near Space As An Alternative To Space

• Look And Feel Of Near Space
• Its Affordable
• Its Quick
• Accessing Near Space
• Functioning In Near Space
• True Stories From The Near Space Files

5
Whats It Like In Near Space?

• lt 5 Sea Level Pressure
• 0 to 40 degrees F
• gt300 Mile To The Horizon
• Cosmic Ray Flux 150X Greater Than Sea Level
• Black Skies, Curved Horizon, and Primary Cosmic
  Rays - It Feels Like Space To Me!

6
Atmospheric Pressure

• Three Rules Of Thumb
• Changes By A Factor Of 3 Per 1000 Feet
• Changes By A Factor Of 50 Per 18,000 feet
• Changes By A Factor Of 90 Per 50,000 feet

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Air Temperature

• Drops As You Climb Through The Troposphere
• Rises As You Climb Through The Stratosphere

8
The Near Space Horizon

• See The Entire State
• Spy On Neighboring States!

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Cosmic Rays

• Primary Cosmic Rays Are Atoms From Stars
• Secondaries Created When Primaries Collide with
  Air Molecules
• Secondaries Further Reduced By The Atmosphere

10
Near Space Is Affordable

• 500 For A Basic Near Space Capsule
• 100 For Ground Support Equipment
• Local Amateur Radio Support (free!)
• 160 Per Launch (to 85,000 feet)
• Except For Balloon And Helium, Its All Reusable

11
Near Space Is Quick

• Build A Capsule Within A Few Months
• Build Ground Support Equipment Within A Few Weeks
• Design Your Experiments Within ?
• Complete A Mission In Time For Lunch

12
Accessing Near Space

• Helium Filled Weather Balloons
• Recovery Parachutes
• Ascent Rates Of 300 To 1200 FPM
• Helium And The Parachute Keeps The Program Safe

13
Functioning In Near Space

• Inexpensive GPS Receiver
• Radio Modem
• Inexpensive HT
• APRS
• Basic Stamp Based Flight Computer (CC/PS)
• Hobby Servos
• MAX186 12 Bit ADC
• AA Batteries

14
Near Space Experiments

• Determine Cosmic Ray Flux (RM-60)
• Atmospheric Temperature Profile
• Wind Profile
• Remote Sensing The Earth
• Technology Tests
• Life Sciences
• Meteoric Dust
• Astronomy

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Conclusion

• Is Near Space Right For You?
• Can You Afford The Initial Cost?
• Can You Sustain The Program?
• Get Your Technicians License!

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Near Space Websites

• www.the-one.com/tvnsp
• www.ksu.edu/humec/knsp
• www.eoss.org
• members.home.net/mconner1/nstar.html
• www.kcnet.com/n3kkm/nearspace.html
• users.crosspaths.net/wallio/records.html

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Strange But True Stories From The Near Space
Files!