Photo by Linda Ross - BLT-18 - On The Way to The Edge of Space!
Photo by BLT-18 - Pete KD5ELH was the Payload Manager for not only the cross-band repeater, but also the 35-mm Camera Experiment. Here we get a fine view just after launch of Mike WA5TWT, Linda Ross and Bill WA5VQH . Can you identify the other folks?
WOW! We are on the way UP! This is a nice view from ON HIGH!
Ummmmmm! It's getting COLD up here!
Harold N5YJB wants to know the altitude of this pic. Until we study the photos from the 35-mm Camera Experiment and compare the camera timer parameters with the measured rise rate from the GPS data, we'll just have to guess that we are near 50,000 feet here. The camera was subjected to the rigors of excessively low temperatures near 60,000 feet, BUT we got a full roll of 36 pix from "somewhere" near the Edge of Space.
Back on the ground, BLT members are preparing to record data and view the fantastic video from the onboard TV camera and 1255 MHz FM-ATV transmitter!
Wild Bill KD5IIU and Richard W5SXD set up a fabulous station to receive and record the FM-ATV signals from BLT-18 under the awning outside Mikey's (KK5SC) mobile home.
Mike N5MT, Darrell KC5JAR and Mike WB5QCC watch the video from BLT-18 using the incredible array of receive and recording gear...
using this LHCP "cantenna" developed by W5ACM (then WA5ZIB) sixteen years ago for AO-10 Mode L uplink ops.
Across the way, by the Secret BLT Hanger, folks gather around to watch the TV signals received by Mike WA5TWT using nothing more than a 1.2 GHz mag mount and an unmodified satellite receiver that just happens to have a 950-1450 MHz IF input. It looked great! Can you find Pete KD5ELH and George W5GFP watching the balloon with their binoculars?
Three of our younger launch-team members are on the left while Craig WD5BDX and John WA5WOD check out Mike's WA5TWT TV reception and GPS data logging/mapping using DeLorme Street Atlas - Road Warrior Edition. You could see the location of the viewed video on the computer map. It was GREAT!
Launch happened at 11 AM on August 25, 2001 from the Wharton Regional Airport. Were you there?!? If not, Why not???