Greetings!

If the surface weather cooperates, we are GO for launch of BLT-16 from the Wharton Space Complex (Municipal Airport) at 1000 hours tomorrow, June 5, 1999. The launch window is from 1000 to 1200. The site is located on the south side of Highway 59 about 1 mile SW of Wharton.

We are sending up 8 lbs of payload with TWO balloons, each with 6 lbs of lift. The main package and subpackages are all tied together, and then suspended from the two balloons. You gotta see it!

The expected groundtrack is 9 miles at 218 degrees. Total flight time is about two hours with burst near 100,000 feet. The use of two balloons may modify this prediction!

Payloads include:

• Crossband voice repeater: 147.435 in, 446.600 MHz out.
• GPS data via AX.25, 1200 baud packet on 440.950 and 442.750 MHz.
• Color camera ATV on 1255 MHz FM.
• HF beacon on 28.322 MHz (CW beeps - rate is proportional to outside temp)

The call-in frequency at the site is 147.435 MHz simplex. There will be HF communications (WA5ABS) on 7155 kHz in Wharton.

There will be a pre-launch net tonight, hosted by Mike WA5TWT, on the 146.700 repeater at 9 PM.

We'll see you at the edge of space!

73 de Andy W5ACM

This just in:

BLT webauthor "PsyoniX" was last seen ON FIRE! That's right folks he reportedly wrote the BLT-16 website in just 10 minutes!

More news will be posted as it becomes available...