INSGC: Near-Space Inspiring Students 02/29/08 StratoStar Systems LLC Jason Krueger, President 236 West Reade Ave Upland, IN

Overview Taylor University H-A Balloon Program StratoStar Systems 2007 HALO Project 2008 HALO II Project NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops

Taylor University H-A Balloon Program Testing Satellite Systems –Taylor University needed to test it’s CubeSat sub-systems –Equipment for lab testing was not available –Dr. Hank Voss & Jeff Dailey decided to launch the CubSat into Near-Space –Dr. Voss & Jeff developed 900 Mhz telemetry system

Taylor University H-A Balloon Program First Launch February 2003

Taylor University H-A Balloon Program First Launch February 2003 –Partially funded by INSGC first Crosscutting Research Grant INSGC has funded the balloon program each year from (Hopefully 2008?)

Taylor University H-A Balloon Program Students are the focus –Build Scientific & Engineering payloads –Track & Recovery payloads –Coordinating logistics –Working in teams –Managing budgets and schedules –Creative problem solving

Taylor University H-A Balloon Program

Balloon Launches for Non-Science Majors –Originally Physics and Engineering –Started launching with Astronomy students and Elementary Education students –Science is taken outside the classroom, lab and atmosphere –Makes Science “Real”

Taylor University H-A Balloon Program Student Quote: –I definitely think the balloon lab should be included in Astronomy...because it's a tangible way to see that this is really still a science, not an outdated sub-genre of physics in which you memorize the planets in our solar system.

Taylor University H-A Balloon Program Taylor Balloon Program History –100% recovery rate –72 launches in 5 years –Major contributor to growth of Physics & Engineering Department

Taylor University H-A Balloon Program INSGC Funding Multiplied –INSGC $ to Taylor is in $10,000s –Outside follow-on funding from INSGC funded projects is $400,000+ –All student focused grants to build the STEM Workforce –$250K for NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops

StratoStar Systems Who are we? –Company has been in business for 2 years –Slogan “Gateway to Near-Space” –StratoStar has over 70 years combined R&D experience –100% payload retrieval to date –Spun out of INSGC funded balloon program

StratoStar Systems StratoSat Complete Flight Package StratoStar’s main product Wireless Payload Pods Battery Charger Command Pod Mobile Tracking Unit Parachute High-Altitude Balloon

StratoStar Systems What do we do? –Help people conducting launches and operate in near-space --“Gate-way to Near-Space” –Sell equipment to conduct launches –Provide training –Provide launch services

StratoStar Systems This will make it too easy for the Students –We supply the command unit and experiment pods – you do the rest –Taken away the things which discourage students and Institutions (Lost equipment & Data) –Students focus on Science and other all areas of engineering (Not just EE) –Success keeps students coming back for more!

StratoStar Systems Don’t let your boat sink!

StratoStar Systems The future student project!

StratoStar Systems Who are your customers? –Higher Education – Taylor University, Cedarville University, DePauw University, University of Akron, University of Minnesota and more. –Industry & Government Agencies – SAIC, NOAA, Air Force, Navy and more

StratoStar Systems StratoStar’s New Altitude Control System –Up to 12 hours flight time –Uses normal Latex balloons –Flights without StratoStar’s altitude control system are about 2-3 hours –Opens the door to new scientific opportunities

StratoStar Systems Different ways to Near-Space 1.StratoStar launches your payloads 2.StratoStar conducts a high-altitude balloon launch with you at your institution 3.Purchase equipment and receive training to conduct your own launches

StratoStar Systems Visit our Website at:

2007 HALO Project High-Altitude Launch Opportunity (HALO) Project Funded by: INSGC, StratoStar & Taylor University

2007 HALO Project Purpose Give students in the Midwest a chance to launch payloads on a high-altitude balloon

2007 HALO Project Purpose Test StratoStar’s cutting edge constellation mesh network (HALO Network)

2007 HALO Project The HALO Students Students at each institution recruited a team Teams built their own payloads

2007 HALO Project The HALO Students Participated in conference calls with all other teams in the Midwest Handled all operations related to launching a high-altitude balloon

2007 HALO Project HALO POD –Each institution received one HALO Pod –Each Pod Contained: –APRS Transmitter, GPS, Temp. Sensor, Pres. Sensor, Humidity Sensor, Geiger Counter and StratoStar’s Mesh Networking Radio. Each Institution added their own payloads for the launch

2007 HALO Project Taylor University: Mission Control

2007 HALO Project DePauw University: Greencastle, IN –All images taken from the same camera

2007 HALO Project Cedarville University: Centerville, OH

2007 HALO Project University of Minnesota: Minneapolis, MN

2007 HALO Project

HALO Coverage Area

2007 HALO Project Successful Project Summary –5 of 8 balloons connected to the create the mesh network constellation. –Temperature, Pressure, Humidity, and Geiger Counter data was sent through constellation –All payloads were recovered –Furthest link was over 270 miles

2007 HALO Project Project Summary (People involved) –70 Students actively involved –110 People attend the launches –1000’s Read the News articles on the HALO project –Each Institution received media coverage of some form –More to come – Academic Publications

2008 HALO II Project

HALO II Details –Sept. – Oct –20 Institutions –No balloon experience needed –Looking for people to participate –Looking for Science experiments to fly Contact Jason Krueger if you are interested –

NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Integrate High-Altitude balloon launches into the classroom and curricula of undergraduate science and engineering courses around the country. Purpose

NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Training and equipping undergraduate professors / instructors of all areas (not just Electrical Engineering and Aerospace) to implement balloon launches in a course which they are teaching. Focus

NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Science and engineering experiments for undergraduate courses Not on building an entire high-altitude balloon system. Focus

NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Training on all aspects of high-altitude ballooning Design and build science experiment Activities

NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Conduct a night launch of a high-altitude balloon Activities

NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Track and recover the your payloads Analyze data from your experiment Network with other professors who have successfully implemented ballooning into the classroom Activities

NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops One Free balloon launch at your University with equipment funded by NSF Follow-up support from Taylor University on implementation of ballooning in your curriculum. Post Workshop Benefits

NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops No cost to attend (limit 5 per institution) –(travel & lodging not included) Each institution receives $200 stipend Short two page application 2 day workshop Offered Twice May or Aug Registration Details

NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Conference Website – Open for Registration Registration Details

StratoStar Systems 236 West Reade Ave Upland, IN POC: Jason Krueger