Building a NearSys BalloonSat Easy Flight Computer for a Near-Space Payload

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Building a NearSysBalloonSat Easy Flight
Computerfor a Near-Space Payload

• AEM 1905 Spaceflight with Ballooning
• University of Minnesota

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BalloonSat Easy kit and instructions
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Parts in BalloonSat Easy kit
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Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
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Resistors, to be numbered R1 R8
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Diode polarity indicated by the stripe
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9-volt battery snap for main power
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AAA battery pack for servo power
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Wires for switches, camera, etc.
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Toggle switches for main power and servo
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Heat-shrink tubing (AKA shrink-wrap)
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IC (only one shown) and two IC sockets
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Capacitor polarized longer lead is positive
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5-volt voltage regulator
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Main power indicator LED flat edge is the
negative lead
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Reed relay to fire hot-wired camera (in any)
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3- and 6-pin headers, including the Programming
Header, the Commit Header, and the (female)
receptacle
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Shorting plug (AKA pull-before-flight pin) which
goes over Commit Header
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Identify which resistors are which then solder in
R1 through R8 in exact locations. R8 330 ohms
(missing from instructions).
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Solder in diode use strip for polarity
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Use Helping Hands to hold Commit Header in place
for soldering
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Commit Header now soldered in place (sticks off
edge of the PCB)
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Solder in 9-volt battery snap using the strain
relief holes in the PCB
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Do the same with the servo battery pack
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Cut long wire into 6 equal pieces then strip one
end of each to ¼ inch length
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Leave other end of two unstripped (for camera
unimplemented) but strip the others ¾ inch and
twist to avoid fraying
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Solder in camera wires, using strain relief
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Solder in 4 switch wires, using strain relief
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Slide on shrink-wrap before proceeding
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Hook one pair of switch wires through the center
and one side post of each switch
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Solder wires to pins, minimizing diameter
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Slide shrink-wrap over solder joints once both
wires have been soldered
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Shrink with heat gun complete 2 switches
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Insert IC sockets in PCB watch notches
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Solder in the capacitor watch polarity
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Insert voltage regulator watch polarity
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Avoid solder bridges on closely-spaced pins of
the voltage regulator
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Insert power indicator LED positive
lead (non-flat edge) goes next to the letter A
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Insert REED relay only goes in one way
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Insert 3-pin male Programming Header and 3-pin
male Servo Header (short ends through the PCB)
without soldering yet. Insert the 6-pin female
receptacle (it may be too tight for all the
pieces to fit flush).
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Shave or sand off receptacle if need be so it
fits next to Servo Header. Once all fit flush to
the PCB, solder pieces in place.
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BalloonSat Easy Flight computer, without
chips, ready for testing