BALLOONING
USIP-UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT INSTRUMENT PACKAGE
Copyright © NASA STEM
The Undergraduate Student Instrument Package (USIP) is a NASA program through the Connecticut Space Grant Consortium, which is designed to expose undergraduate students to Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM). Club members assisted University of Bridgeport students in a project to put an Arduino based computerized puppet (monkey) on a high altitude Helium balloon which was launched to approximately 11,000 feet.
The 3-D printed "monkey" was commanded from the ground, tracked by APRS and utilized downlink ATV television so we were able to watch the "monkey" move and react to commands.
Club member Larry AB1JC (center) with University of Bridgeport USIP students Ricky (left) and Xavier (right). On the table are robotic monkeys that will fly.
Student designed USIP High Altitude Monkey (HAM) mission patch
To see a video of the USIP Monkey, click below (turn your speakers on)
For first flight pictures, click on the link below.
USIP First Flight Pictures
To see a video of the USIP Monkey Launch November 2019, click below (turn your speakers on)
To see a video of a radiosonde Launch March 2021, click below (turn your speakers on)
NOTICE SUMMER 2023: HAM 2.0, a second Monkey is approaching flight status!
To see pictures of our testing of the Robotic Monkey, click below.
Robotic Monkey HAM 2.0
New Horizons
There was a book signing by Dr. D. Grinspoon Planetary Biologist and Dr A. Stern, Principal Investigator for the New Horizons spacecraft which went to the planet Pluto in 2015 and Kuiper belt object 2014 MU69 in January 2019.
Yes, Pluto is a planet!
For pictures, click on the link below.
New Horizons Presentation
Discovery 1 Balloon Flight 2015
Discovery 1 was a flight to test out hardware, software, launch & recovery procedures and to train students in the art of high altitude balloon launching.
Because of a cutdown mechanism failure, the balloon reached an altitude of almost 90,000 feet.
Launched from Bridgeport CT, it was recovered the next day after having splashed down in the Peconic Bay of Long Island NY.
The Launch (movie courtesy Westport Astronomical Society)
The Launch (movie from Bob WD1M)
From 84,000 to 89,391 feet, and DOWN!
Discovery 1 Post Flight Analysis
LIGHT APRS
Larry AB1JC holds our payload (light aprs)
Flight of AB1JC-11 Light APRS Tracker Balloon
Wx Balloon Launch March 2021
Members Dave KB1YYJ and Larry AB1JC mentor Graduate Students while launching a radiosonde Wx balloon, March 6, 2021
For pictures, click on the link below.
Wx Balloon March 2021
Wx Balloon Launch May 17, 2023
Members J. Pallis KC1MHU, Dave KB1YYJ and Larry AB1JC mentor Univ of Bridgeport and Univ of New Haven Graduate Students while launching a radiosonde Wx balloon, May 2023
For pictures, click on the link below.
Wx Balloon May 17 2023
High Altitude Balloon Launch May 24, 2023
Members J. Pallis KC1MHU and Larry AB1JC provide expertise for the University of Hartford by launching a high altitude balloon, May 2023For pictures, click on the link below.
Balloon May 24 2023
Solar Eclipse Tethered Balloon Test September 22, 2023
Members J. Pallis KC1MHU, Gary WE1M & Larry AB1JC provide expertise for the University of Bridgeport & University of New Haven faculty and Grad Students in preparation for the annular solar eclipse Oct 15 and solar eclipse April 2024.For pictures, click on the link below.
Tethered Launch Test