As you can see the balloon is fully inflated, and I believe it's just about at float altitude of around 120,000 feet. ANITA apparently didn't want to leave our site and is now heading straight towards the South Pole. We would have preferred it to take a similar course to CREAM as it keeps us away from all the radio activity at the South Pole. The ironic thing is the path CREAM takes doesn't affect their science.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
ANITA through the telescope
We brought a telescope with us to make sure the drop downs deployed. We were able to track ANITA pretty well with it for quite some time. It was a bit of a challenge to get the camera to focus through the eye piece, but here is a good shot taken by another person.
As you can see the balloon is fully inflated, and I believe it's just about at float altitude of around 120,000 feet. ANITA apparently didn't want to leave our site and is now heading straight towards the South Pole. We would have preferred it to take a similar course to CREAM as it keeps us away from all the radio activity at the South Pole. The ironic thing is the path CREAM takes doesn't affect their science.
As you can see the balloon is fully inflated, and I believe it's just about at float altitude of around 120,000 feet. ANITA apparently didn't want to leave our site and is now heading straight towards the South Pole. We would have preferred it to take a similar course to CREAM as it keeps us away from all the radio activity at the South Pole. The ironic thing is the path CREAM takes doesn't affect their science.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Update on ANITA
Everything appears fine with ANITA right now. She's actually headed straight towards Taylor Dome. The pulser we set up there is working fine.
Again, you can monitor our flight at http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/map/balloon8/balloon8.htm If you click on the google maps link at the bottom you can see a better representation of the path it took.
Here is one of the more interesting plots we can look at. The colors represent the thickness of the ice, with red being the thickest. The thicker the ice, the more likely a neutrino will interact with it. The path of ANITA is the pink line. The dotted circle around it represents the area ANITA can see.
Again, you can monitor our flight at http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/map/balloon8/balloon8.htm If you click on the google maps link at the bottom you can see a better representation of the path it took.
Here is one of the more interesting plots we can look at. The colors represent the thickness of the ice, with red being the thickest. The thicker the ice, the more likely a neutrino will interact with it. The path of ANITA is the pink line. The dotted circle around it represents the area ANITA can see.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Launch of ANITA
We left McMurdo at 4:30 am this morning and were able to get the balloon up by 10:18 am local time. I just got back to my room, but I will be going back out tonight to work the graveyard shift from 12-8.
I'm sure I'll be adding more photos, but here's a start. I will include photos from both days, but we can all pretend they are all from the same launch.
This is the top panel from the battery box. The artist was a member of ANITA as we didn't have enough entries in the art contest. I don't think it is black enough, but it was approved.
The hook to hook transfer. If they were not able to do this, we would have to set ANITA down outside, hoist it with the Boss, and then put on the drop down antennas and the solar panels. It would have added a few hours to getting it flight ready for each attempt and it would have meant more work outside.
Driving ANITA to the launch pad.
A Challenger pulling the sled carrying the balloon. The balloon itself weighs about 4000 pounds.
The spool. It hides its 18,000 pounds pretty well. As you will see in other photos, part of the balloon wraps around the spool. A lever flips the spool up, which releases the balloon.
A dozer hauling one of the two helium trailers used to fill the balloon. It took one full trailer plus 7 of the 12 tubes on the other trailer. Each tube is at about 2800 psi.
Tragically, after the CREAM launch, a worker, who happened to be from Ventura, was run over by one of the tracks on the trailer. Apparently they were trying to hook the two trailers together to take back to McMurdo and somehow he got run over. Thankfully another worker was there to pull him out before he got run over by the next set of treads. They rushed him to the hospital here and then put him on an emergency flight back to Christchurch. Apparently he is doing alright now, but has a crushed pelvis and possibly bruised kidneys. Obviously the accident could have been a lot worse.
The set up at the pad. The spool is on the trailer just out of the shot on the right.
Releasing a pie ball to check the wind speed and direction.
This is looking down the balloon train. The parachute is in the foreground.
This shot shows the balloon wrapped around the spool. The balloon is in two layers of protective plastic, an outer red layer, and an inner yellow layer. Once they open the protective covering the balloon either gets filled or thrown away. I believe the balloon itself is valued at around $120,000, and is quite a feat of manufacturing.
I'm standing next to the spool in this shot, looking back towards the payload.
In this shot you can see the CSBF employees putting the valves on the top of the balloon. The valves are used to terminate the flight.
There's an explosive charge in the silver box that cuts the bolts linking the parachute and the payload to the balloon. The balloon on the right, the parachute is out of the shot to the left.
A CSBF employee getting ready to fill the balloon from one of the two vent tubes.
Beginning to inflate the balloon.
Just prior to release of the balloon.
Release of the balloon. It has about 13,000 pounds of lift.
The balloon rising.
The balloon is almost over the payload.
Release of the gondola. It takes just about 20 seconds from the release of the balloon until the pin is pulled on the Boss.
Prior to the drop downs deploying.
After deployment of the drop downs.
As you can see, even CSBF has problems with falling debris. This is one of the plastic pieces that make up a collar on the balloon. It would have been catastrophic if the plastic hit a solar panel, but luckily they didn't.
Off she goes.
A superb photo of my hand, but if you look carefully you can see the balloon floating at about 50,000 feet.
I'm sure I'll be adding more photos, but here's a start. I will include photos from both days, but we can all pretend they are all from the same launch.
This is the top panel from the battery box. The artist was a member of ANITA as we didn't have enough entries in the art contest. I don't think it is black enough, but it was approved.
The hook to hook transfer. If they were not able to do this, we would have to set ANITA down outside, hoist it with the Boss, and then put on the drop down antennas and the solar panels. It would have added a few hours to getting it flight ready for each attempt and it would have meant more work outside.
Driving ANITA to the launch pad.
A Challenger pulling the sled carrying the balloon. The balloon itself weighs about 4000 pounds.
The spool. It hides its 18,000 pounds pretty well. As you will see in other photos, part of the balloon wraps around the spool. A lever flips the spool up, which releases the balloon.
A dozer hauling one of the two helium trailers used to fill the balloon. It took one full trailer plus 7 of the 12 tubes on the other trailer. Each tube is at about 2800 psi.Tragically, after the CREAM launch, a worker, who happened to be from Ventura, was run over by one of the tracks on the trailer. Apparently they were trying to hook the two trailers together to take back to McMurdo and somehow he got run over. Thankfully another worker was there to pull him out before he got run over by the next set of treads. They rushed him to the hospital here and then put him on an emergency flight back to Christchurch. Apparently he is doing alright now, but has a crushed pelvis and possibly bruised kidneys. Obviously the accident could have been a lot worse.
The set up at the pad. The spool is on the trailer just out of the shot on the right.
Releasing a pie ball to check the wind speed and direction.
This is looking down the balloon train. The parachute is in the foreground.
This shot shows the balloon wrapped around the spool. The balloon is in two layers of protective plastic, an outer red layer, and an inner yellow layer. Once they open the protective covering the balloon either gets filled or thrown away. I believe the balloon itself is valued at around $120,000, and is quite a feat of manufacturing.
I'm standing next to the spool in this shot, looking back towards the payload.
In this shot you can see the CSBF employees putting the valves on the top of the balloon. The valves are used to terminate the flight.
There's an explosive charge in the silver box that cuts the bolts linking the parachute and the payload to the balloon. The balloon on the right, the parachute is out of the shot to the left.
A CSBF employee getting ready to fill the balloon from one of the two vent tubes.
Beginning to inflate the balloon.
Just prior to release of the balloon.
Release of the balloon. It has about 13,000 pounds of lift.
The balloon rising.
The balloon is almost over the payload.
Release of the gondola. It takes just about 20 seconds from the release of the balloon until the pin is pulled on the Boss.
Prior to the drop downs deploying.
After deployment of the drop downs.As you can see, even CSBF has problems with falling debris. This is one of the plastic pieces that make up a collar on the balloon. It would have been catastrophic if the plastic hit a solar panel, but luckily they didn't.
Off she goes.
A superb photo of my hand, but if you look carefully you can see the balloon floating at about 50,000 feet.
Second Launch Attempt
We should be making are second attempt to launch today at around 11 am local time. If i hear different and get a chance to update this post I will.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
First launch attempt
We are going to make our first launch attempt today. I can't say exactly when, but I think it may be in a couple of hours. If anyone is incredibly bored, you can follow along somewhat at http://www.csbf.nasa.gov/antarctica/ice0809.htm.
No launch today. NASA had a hard drive fail on their instrument, and they lost confidence in the weather during the replacement, so we'll try again tomorrow.
No launch today. NASA had a hard drive fail on their instrument, and they lost confidence in the weather during the replacement, so we'll try again tomorrow.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Hut Point and Hut Point Ridge Hike
You can actually see a lot of this hike in the photo of McMurdo taken from Ob Hill.
The cross at hut point.
I am pretty sure this is a Weddell seal, but I could be wrong. We saw about 5 on the ice, but most were solitary. Some info on them can be found at this site. One of the more interesting tidbits about the species is their comparatively short lifespan. Weddell's usually only live to about 20 or, while other seals live into their 40's. This is because Weddell seals grind through the ice with their teeth to maintain breathing holes, which results in considerable wear.
Mcmurdo.
You can see Discovery Hut which I haven't toured yet. Right behind it from this perspective is the ice pier, which looks like a rectangular brown patch. After the ice breaker comes in, they will offload all the food for next year there as well as fuel, and take the trash and waste back.
A trail marker.
The coast.
Part of the trial.
A Brown skua. I believe only Brown Skua's live here. This shot doesn't give it justice, the birds have a four foot wingspan, but basically they look like large, brown, menacing gulls.
A view of McMurdo from a little ways along the trail.
Further along the trail.
Erebus in the bakcground.
The sea ice.
The cross at hut point.
I am pretty sure this is a Weddell seal, but I could be wrong. We saw about 5 on the ice, but most were solitary. Some info on them can be found at this site. One of the more interesting tidbits about the species is their comparatively short lifespan. Weddell's usually only live to about 20 or, while other seals live into their 40's. This is because Weddell seals grind through the ice with their teeth to maintain breathing holes, which results in considerable wear.
Mcmurdo.
You can see Discovery Hut which I haven't toured yet. Right behind it from this perspective is the ice pier, which looks like a rectangular brown patch. After the ice breaker comes in, they will offload all the food for next year there as well as fuel, and take the trash and waste back.
A trail marker.
The coast.
Part of the trial.
A Brown skua. I believe only Brown Skua's live here. This shot doesn't give it justice, the birds have a four foot wingspan, but basically they look like large, brown, menacing gulls.
A view of McMurdo from a little ways along the trail.
Further along the trail.
Erebus in the bakcground.
The sea ice.Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Update
There has not been much activity recently. The gondola is ready to go, but the weather has not cooperated. They were able to launch one pathfinder earlier, and the path was not favorable. They just launched a second pathfinder and are already satisfied with its path. Apparently CREAM may launch tomorrow if the weather is suitable. If the weather remains favorable we could launch a couple days later.
Here is a link to the NASA page . You can monitor the flight paths of the two pathfinders and the gondola's when they launch. To make it easier for pilots, Antarctica has its own coordinate system. In the projection you see on the Pathfinder link, the prime meridian becomes grid north.
That is the payload for the Ultra Long Duration Balloon or ULDB hanging from the Boss. They are still testing it out, so the payload is mostly just instrumentation for tracking. ANITA and CREAM use Long Duration Balloons. The main difference is ULDB's are pressurized because they are completely sealed, LDB's are open at the bottom like a hot air balloon. Both use helium to fly. Originally LDB's only flew for a week or so, but now they are having flights of over 30 days. ULDB's should fly for a few months. ULDB's though don't have much application in Antarctica, because as there is only a limited window in which you can launch and recover a balloon.
The mezzanine in the hangar.
My area is on the right
The hangar with ANITA right outside.
This shot actually isn't that much better without ANITA.
Update to the update. The pathfinding balloon has a leak, and is dropping pretty fast, it should impact in a couple minutes. My guess is they won't launch CREAM tomorrow.
Rumor has it they were using a new untested balloon type for the pathfinder.
Here is a link to the NASA page . You can monitor the flight paths of the two pathfinders and the gondola's when they launch. To make it easier for pilots, Antarctica has its own coordinate system. In the projection you see on the Pathfinder link, the prime meridian becomes grid north.
That is the payload for the Ultra Long Duration Balloon or ULDB hanging from the Boss. They are still testing it out, so the payload is mostly just instrumentation for tracking. ANITA and CREAM use Long Duration Balloons. The main difference is ULDB's are pressurized because they are completely sealed, LDB's are open at the bottom like a hot air balloon. Both use helium to fly. Originally LDB's only flew for a week or so, but now they are having flights of over 30 days. ULDB's should fly for a few months. ULDB's though don't have much application in Antarctica, because as there is only a limited window in which you can launch and recover a balloon.
The mezzanine in the hangar.
My area is on the right
The hangar with ANITA right outside.
This shot actually isn't that much better without ANITA.Update to the update. The pathfinding balloon has a leak, and is dropping pretty fast, it should impact in a couple minutes. My guess is they won't launch CREAM tomorrow.
Rumor has it they were using a new untested balloon type for the pathfinder.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Pressure Ridges
I went on a tour of the pressure ridges off of Scott Base. The pressure ridges are formed as the ice from the Ross Ice shelf slowly pushes into the sea ice. The formations are due to the immense pressure that results.
Looking out at the start of the trail from Scott Base. On some years there is open water from the coast by Scott Base to the Ice Shelf.
Looking back at Scott Base from the pressure ridges. Mount Erebus is on the right, Castle Rock is just to the left of Erebus, Observation Hill is just outside of this shot on the left. You can see the pressure ridges in the shot of Scott Base from the entry on Observation Hill.
Evidence of seal in the area. I have seen seals in the area when I ride by the pressure ridges every day for work.
Evidence of a penguin, but the penguin was headed in the wrong direction. The penguins are all on the other side of the island right now, but they may venture over here when the sea ice starts opening up.
Mount Discovery in the background.
Looking out at the start of the trail from Scott Base. On some years there is open water from the coast by Scott Base to the Ice Shelf.
Looking back at Scott Base from the pressure ridges. Mount Erebus is on the right, Castle Rock is just to the left of Erebus, Observation Hill is just outside of this shot on the left. You can see the pressure ridges in the shot of Scott Base from the entry on Observation Hill.
Evidence of seal in the area. I have seen seals in the area when I ride by the pressure ridges every day for work.
Evidence of a penguin, but the penguin was headed in the wrong direction. The penguins are all on the other side of the island right now, but they may venture over here when the sea ice starts opening up.
Mount Discovery in the background.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)