If you guys couldn't tell, I'm getting a little stressed out about the our potential to get everything done in the next 10 days. Here are some questions I have. My comments in response to your comments are in green.

1. How much does the payload weigh?
   1. The payload will weigh right around 8 pounds, but the launch team will account for it being 10 pounds in their calculations for a buffer. Good start, but I am looking more for something like "we have weighed everything that will go into space and it weighs exactly 8.37 lbs."
      
2. What is our desired nozzle lift?
1. 19 pounds
   
3. What does nozzle lift mean?
1. How much overall lift the balloon has
   
4. What is our desired ascent rate?
1. GOAL: 1200-1400 feet per minute
1. With 19 lbs of nozzle lift, the ascent rate should be 1376 feet per minute
5. What is our desired descent rate?
1. Somewhere between 1300-2000 ft/minute. However, this requires extra padding on the styrofoam box.
   
2. As it stands, our balloon will probably descend around 700-900 ft/min. That's too slow! We need to tweak our parachute.
   
6. How are we assuring the desired rates?
1. After school on Wednesday, we are going to start testing the parachute. It looks like we are going to have to keep tweaking it (adding holes, etc.) until we can get it falling much faster.
   
7. How much helium will we need?
   1. Alex ran the numbers for us. He says that it takes 15 cubic feet of helium to lift one pound of payload off the earth. So, if we need to lift a 10 pound payload and have an additional 10 pounds of lift, that's 300 cubic feet. To be safe, we should probably buy 350-360 cubic feet.
   2. UPDATE: we got the helium..
      
8. How do we fill the balloon?
1. Ideally, we would fill the balloon inside some sort of building (old barn, etc.) that would help prevent any environmental damage. Regardless, the balloon will be inflated on a giant tarp and handled with gloves as an extra precaution.
   
2. After the balloon is on the tarp, the gas tank will be laid next to the balloon. We then run a hose from the regulator to your filling adaptor.
1. The regulator manufacturers recommend that you crack the valve slightly to blow out any dust before screwing on the regulator.
2. THE FILLING ADAPTOR: This is a piece of plastic tubing wide enough to be a snug fit into the open end of the balloon - 1.5 to 2 inches should do it. PVC pipe is fine. Somehow neck the other end of that tube down to the point where you can attach the hose from the gas tank to it. Also put a hook on the tube - perhaps by epoxying a piece of coat hanger wire to the side of the tube, near the end where the hose attaches. Now tie some twine from that hook to the jug.
3. We need some help here. If you are looking for something to do on the snow day and you live near a Lowe's and you understand this drawing (http://superspaceadventure.wetpaint.com/photo/3719231/Filling+Adaptor), then please feel free to pick up some plumbing for us.
   
3. Fill the balloon until the jug "just" lifts off the floor. At this point, there is enough gas in the balloon to lift the payload, parachute, radar reflector and connecting cords
9. How do we seal the balloon?
1. Sealing the balloon: using heavy twine, tie the balloon neck off tightly above the filling adaptor. Remove the adaptor. Tie the neck again, four to six inches below the first piece of twine. Tie your payload cord to the neck between these two pieces of twine. Now bend the neck over double and tie it again, twice. You will now have the neck of the balloon bent over double, with the payload suspension cord nestled in the bottom of the bend and the whole thing securely tied. You're ready to launch. (You can use tie-wraps instead of twine if you wish, but they're heavier.)
10. What call sign are we using?
    1. Sam and I have both taken and passed the Ham exam. We should know our call signs by Friday. Thank you for doing that. If we are not 100% sure that you guys will receive your call signs in time, we need a backup plan.
    2. UPDATE: if we don't have the call signs in time, we will use K4DND-11.
       
11. How do we attach the parachute?
1. Happy day. The parachute has a little loop on the top Will attach 50 lb rope to the balloon and tie it to the parachute..
   
12. How do we attach the payload?
1. On opposite sides of the styrofoam box are two screw-eyes. The parachute shroud lines will attach to those screw eyes.
   
13. Do we have enough money?
14. Do we need a cutdown mechanism?
    1. I think it would be unnecessary when all our projections have given us a 60 mile buffer zone when we drive to Roanoke and control the ascent and descent rate. Word.
15. How do we waterproof our payload?
1. This isn't as big of an issue as it was, since we are going south-west to launch the balloon. However, we are planning on caulking the styrofoam box shut, which should make it mostly waterproof.
   
16. Do we need to waterproof the payload?
    1. wow, mr. shields. thank you for your very helpful list of guiding questions. it reveals how much work we still have left to do.
       
    2. i am just one person, but maybe if everyone answers one or two questions, we'll have these all answered by monday. allow me to do my part by saying that we have decided not to waterproof the payload completely. the payload will be watertight except for one small hole on the top. that way, pressure inside and outside will remain equalized, but it will probably still float in the event of a water landing.
    3. fyi, i used the indent button, next to the link button above to create this little sublist. I also made it 10pt blue font, so it was distinguishable from the main list.
       
17. How do we attach the balloon to the payload?
1. See Question 9
   
18. Do we have everything we need?
    1. For the recovery team: We have all the electronics and they will all be assembled and tested by this weekend, the 24th/25th. The parachute has been shipped and will arrive by Tuesday. This allows for testing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with a complete payload. In terms of the payload we need people to bring in: caulk, nylon string, hot glue sticks, washers, screws, CAMERAS? (taken care of)
       
    2. We still need two more cameras. Do you have a Canon camera that you would like to send into space for a couple hours? Please check the list of hackable Canon cameras (http://superspaceadventure.wetpaint.com/thread/2256542/cameras!).
       
19. How will we transport and assemble everything on launch day?
1. Our current plan is to have a minivan/SUV convoy. However, we need people to volunteer their cars AND their parents to drive us there.
   
20. How are we receiving the GPS data during recovery?
    1. APRS via Google Earth from iPhones and a backup person in Charlottesville tracking via computer. And when we loose cell coverage?
    2. I just wrote a little web app that will send longitude, latitude, and a google maps link for any call sign via text message to my phone. I can set it to send the text every 10 minutes or so. That way, we don't need web access, just cell coverage. Hopefully, that will be sufficient.
       
    3. And, we just got a little setup from Mr. K4DND-8 which will plot our balloon on a laptop in one of the chase cars. Very cool.
       
21. How are we fitting all of our equipment on board?
1. All of the equipment is being packed into two small black boxes (with the exception of the cameras). These boxes are then placed inside of the styrofoam box. Anders got it to fit on Sunday (1/25)
   
22. Will condensation or other moisture mess with our electronics?
1. The styrofoam box should be thick enough and sufficiently air-tight to prevent this from being a problem
   
23. What camera settings should we use?
24. How will the cameras know to take pictures automatically?
    1. I just bought a Canon PowerShot A590 and basically hacked the firmware so it will run little scripts. I have it taking a picture every 30 seconds. It's pretty sweet. The scripts can be pretty involved. You could have it take pictures every 30 seconds for 10 minutes, then every minute or something like that. I'll donate the camera to the cause, hoping I can get it back then sell it on ebay. The hack took like 10 minutes. Perhaps a donor would like to buy two more of these cameras at $130 each, with similar hopes that they would eventually recover them and sell them.
       
25. Do we have enough batteries for everything?
1. Yes. And the lithium batteries should run forever. So not an issue
   
26. What are the recovery effort details we should be worried about?
27. Who is driving?
1. In terms of liability, parents/adults are probably the best drivers. However, if there are enough students who are over 18 and are willing to drive, that might be easier to coordinate.
   
28. What vehicles are we using?
1. NEED TO FIGURE THIS OUT. We will probably need the equivalent of FIVE minivans (7 passenger vehicles) to fit everyone and the supplies. Car possibilities include:
1. Lizzie's 7-person minivan
2. John's SUV
3. Claire's 8-person car
   
4. Village School Van (??)
   
29. Do we need permission slips?
    1. Done. It's at the bottom of this page. Just make sure you get it signed and returned by Launch Day!
       
30. What are the GPS transmission details?
31. What’s the deal with the Peeps?
    1. This weekend Hilary and I (Clay) are creating the wire holders for the peeps. The peeps will be sticking out of two sides of the box just in view of two of the side cameras.
       
32. Do we have a finalized, color logo?
    1. Yes but I (Hilary) dont know what to do with it. And I dont know if it is the right size. Can you get it in a digital format (e.g. flash, photoshop, etc.)?
       
33. Are we going to have matching shirts?
    1. Right now it sounds like we're over budget so that doesnt sound like the best idea.
       
34. How is the external site coming?
    1. The external site is up but it is ugly. I (Hilary) am going to add pictures this weekend.
       
35. Do we have a complete list of materials and purchases?
1. Launch Team Materials
1. Balloon (purchased - $100)
2. Styrofoam box (donated)
3. String
   
1. Purchased by Lizzie. No reimbursment necessary
   
4. Washers, bolts, screw-eyes
   
1. Purchased by Greg. Receipts need. Reimbursment?
5. Lexan Sheets
1. Purchased by Greg. Receipts need. Reimbursment?
6. Helium (NOT PURCHASED)
   
36. Do we have a detailed design schematic?
37. Have we done the most accurate flight prediction possible?
38. Do I have each team’s list of roles?
1. The launch team's roles are listed on the launch team page of the wiki
   
39. What weather conditions would require launch postponement?
1. Precipitation (rain, snow, hail, etc.) as well as high winds
   
40. How will we know our balloon is filled the exact right amount?
1. Since we want nineteen pounds of nozzle lift, our plan is to attach a 19-lb weight to the balloon. As soon as the balloon can lift the weight, we will know it is filled to the correct amount.
   
41. Will we have the picture taking and storing system tested by Monday?
42. Will we have the APRS (GPS/Transmission/Receiving) system tested by Monday?
43. Should we test our balloon inflation process?
1. No, as the helium is going to be too expensive
   
44. Do we have a Launch Day checklist?
1. Tarp
2. Gloves
3. Helium Tank
4. Filling Adaptor (PVC piping)
5. Payload
1. Styrofoam box
2. Electronics, etc.
6. Permission slips
7. Balloon
8. Parachute
9. Aluminum Foil (for radar reflector)
10. Rope/heavy cord
11. Permission slips
12. 19 lb weight
    
45. Launch site?
1. Roanoke isn't going to work, as it has an airport and is a congested area. We are now considering using a farm owned by Lizzie's second cousins near New Castle (which is approximately 2 hours away)
   

I know you guys aren't balloon experts, but hey, neither am I. But I am willing to share some links I found that I think will help you in your quest for answers. Check out these four links for starters.


http://tinyurl.com/a3prwn

http://tinyurl.com/7xoglk

http://tinyurl.com/8qlyfh

http://tinyurl.com/8o97v9