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!WORK IN PROGRESS! NOT FORMATTED YET!

Balloon Filling:

Overlooks Horizon Procedure

New England Weather Balloon Society's Procedure:

How to Inflate and Tie off Balloon

We use a similar method to this:

https://www.highaltitudescience.com/pages/how-to-inflate-a-weather-balloon

https://www.highaltitudescience.com/pages/tying-off-a-weather-balloon

NEWBS changes:

  • BEFORE attaching the balloon to the fill adapter and filling, we have SIX overhand loop knots pulled around the neck of the balloon (or more likely around the fill tube).  4 of these are strings that attach to each of the 4 spiral stakes in order to hold the balloon stable between fill and launch.  1 is attached to our payload train (down to the parachute, and from there to the radiosonde), and the last 1 is attached to a COUNTERWEIGHT (see below).  Before we remove the balloon from the fill adapter, we slide ALL 6 loops up around the neck of the balloon.

  • We use a COUNTERWEIGHT to measure our neck lift instead of a pull/fishing scale.  After running our balloon calculator, we take the "Neck Lift" spit out by the calculator, subtract the weight of the fill adapter attached to the balloon, and fill a bag or bucket with water bottles until it reaches that remaining weight.  This is tied to the balloon using a short segment of string (only a few feet) using one of the 6 loops mentioned above.  As the balloon is getting close, we watch until it is able to consistently lift the counterweight without dropping it back down again.  At this point, we stop filling.

  • When removing the balloon from the fill adapter, be VERY careful not to let go of the balloon, and also make sure to only grab it by the thick part of the neck.  Then we cut off the counterweight.

  • Here is a picture from a previous launch, showing the balloon staying completely stable in the wind after being tied down to 4 stakes.  This takes the stress away as you give speeches, do final preparations, etc.  Once you're ready to launch, grab the neck of the balloon and cut these strings.  Then you can walk with it to the final lift off spot.

  • Note: Make sure you have room downwind before any trees or buildings, so it has plenty of space to clear any obstacles.  The flight path prediction will show you which way it's expected to go.  Ascent rates higher than 5 m/s will go straight up pretty fast.

Our procedure:

Roles

  • Helium tank handler

    • Responsible for the helium tank

    • Ensures the tank is secured properly

    • Responsible for ensuring the regulator is undamaged

    • Controls flow of gas going to balloon

  • Balloon handler

    • Responsible for the balloon and ensuring its handled properly

    • Ensures the correct amount of gas enters the balloon

    • Ensures the balloon is tied down properly before filling begins

  • Photographer

    • Takes close-out photos

    • Takes event photos

  • Tracking/Chase/Manager

    • Responsible for checking GPS lock on the ground

    • Responsible for calling in a NOTAM

    • Responsible for alerting an airport if the balloons in flight predicted landing is near or on there grounds

  • PR person

    • Explains what we are up to to strangers that may walk up

Outline:

  • Tank prep

    • Tank arrives at site

      • Details to be flushed out at a later date

    • Tank is checked to ensure it is in accordance with the RIT gas tank handling guidelinese

    • Regulator is attached, again following the training provided by RIT

    • Tube from regulator to balloon setup area is laid out

  • Site prep

    • The launch site needs sufficient open area down wind to clear the tree line

    • The launch site needs to have sufficient distance from inhabited areas that in the first 1000ft of accent the balloon does not pass over a dwelling

    • A tarp is layer out and staked down

    • Four steaks are planted and line of sufficient length for anchoring the balloon is attached

    • The payload area is established, this could be a table or on the ground depending on the site and type of payload

  • Balloon prep(done with nytril gloves)

    • Balloon Is laid out on the tarp

    • Anchor strings are slipped around the neck and loosely tightened

    • Filling adapter is attached to the balloon

  • Payload Prep

    • Payload is strung up according to the line order

    • Payload is layed out in strait line away from the launch pad

    • Close out is completed in accordance with the payloads prep procedure

  • Balloon filling & Handling

    • The tank operator and balloon operator must have good & immediate communication(withing earshot) or radio

    • Balloon handler puts the fill tube into the balloon and makes sure its not going to fall off

    • Balloon Handler watches for the scale to reach zero(to know the correct amount of helium is in the balloon.

  • Balloon Tie off

    • Balloon is tied off

  • Launching

    • Safety are removed

    • Launch procedure blah blah

Procedures

Transportation

Tank Prep

  • When the tank arrives at the site it is secured with ratchet straps to (IDK, what can we get in the field that could restrain a tank properly

  • A regulator is attached to the tank

    • Correct pressure rating

    • Correct gas type(ie. don't use a hydrogen regulator with helium)

    • Undamaged threads on both side

  • The helium tube is run to the launch tarp

    • Ensure not a tripping hazard, don't let the tube hang. Have it run along the ground

  • Turn the valve of the tank on

    • Turn it slowly

    • Turn it all the way on

Site Prep

  • Site requirments

    • The launch site needs sufficient open area down wind to clear the tree line

    • The launch site needs to have sufficient distance from inhabited areas that in the first 1000ft of accent the balloon does not pass over a dwelling

  • Lay out a tarp big enough for the balloon and some hand tools

    • So the balloon is not scratched or in the grass

  • Add steaks

    • 4 steaks to hold down the tarp

    • 4 more to be a safety catch for the balloon

  • (Optional) table setup, helpful for payloads generally

    • Table space is generally used for payload and holding tools

Balloon Prep DONE WITH GLOVES

  • Layout balloon

    • Balloon should unroll, don't spend to much time making it perfect, the less you touch the balloon the better

  • Backup ropes

    • Put the backup ropes over the neck of the balloon and very loosely tighten them with a slip knot

  • Attach inflator

    • Attach the inflation tube to the neck of the balloon

    • Check it will not slip out easily

    • Tighten backup ropes above the flare in the inflator to keep the balloon grounded

Payload Prep(All payloads will be different, these are more guidelines to follow)

  • Follow Payload Procedure

  • Check battery's are charged

  • Check payload is “armed”

  • Check payload has GPS lock and is transmitting/Decoding on receiving station

SONDE Trackers

  • Sondes cases have had NWS stickers removed

  • Sondes are powered on using fresh energizer ultimate lithium AA out of the pack

  • Sondes are checked to have lock and be decoding on ground station laptop

Line prep

  • Ensure the line items are attached in the correct order

  • Double check knots

  • Check all carabiners are taped shut

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