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CX7BY > SAT 02.11.03 02:19l 61 Lines 2187 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS-306.05
Read: DB0FHN GUEST
Subj: AMRAD balloon launch
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0SIF<DB0EA<DB0RES<ON0AR<7M3TJZ<CX2ACB<CX7BY
Sent: 031101/2346Z @:CX7BY.MVD.URY.SA #:58853 [Montevideo] FBB $:ANS-306.05
From: CX7BY@CX7BY.MVD.URY.SA
To : SAT@AMSAT
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 306.05 From AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD. November 2, 2003
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-306.05
AMRAD's balloon was launched last Friday, 24th October, around 5:30pm GMT.
The payload consisted on a Video Camera, ATV 1260MHz, GPS receiver, APRS
tracking device transmitting on VHF 145.850MHz. Four balloons pulled it up,
and a parachute went together. A picture at our web site listed below shows
the setup. It has inside the payload, a plastic wrapped paper with ID,
contacts and emails.
The balloon was tracked for more than 10h with the precious help of CT1FAK,
and other colleagues, using their powerful receiving stations, equipped with
the latest radio technology.
The last received packet from the balloon, at CT1FAK's station, has the
timestamp of +-3:30am GMT 25th October. We lost contact with the balloon
after that.
We received logs from our friends in the Northwest Spain, Galiza, with
timestamps of 7:49am Zulu same day. They had the last contact with the
running balloon.
The balloon climbed up to 27xxx feet only. Bad weather and heavy clouds
didn't allow it to rise higher.
According to wind charts, forecasts and local Meteo office, we had East
winds that would push the balloon into middle Atlantic Ocean, and later
north.
The balloon is already electrically "dead". Hence our contact to the
countries around the Atlantic Ocean. As the payload is pulled by four
balloons, we presume it is still floating around somewhere, if it hadn't
burst because of the heavy cloud ceiling, that didn't allow it any higher.
We would like to take the opportunity to ask for help in recovering the
payload (and some advise). If by any chance the balloon falls in your
country, is picked up in the ocean by boats/fishermen, or picked at the sea
shore.
On behalf of AMRAD's board and associates, we thank you all. For reading,
for spreading the news to your associates and colleagues and for, who knows,
catching the payload :)
AMRAD web site
http://www.amrad.pt/lancamento_cinelsat2.php
AMSAT-CT web site
http://www.amrad.pt/amsatct.php
[ANS thanks CT2GPW for the above information]
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