Operations
Launch ~~~~ Ground Control Station ~~~~ Recovery
Launch
The launch team is responsible for filling the latex balloon with helium and ensuring the lift is correct for the desired rate of rise. The launch team is also responsible for properly connecting the balloon, parachute and payload package together with nylon cord. After checking with ground control that the payload is functioning
100% and ready for launch, the launch team is then responsible for launching the balloon with it's payload after ensuring it will safely clear all nearby ground obstacles as it begins its assent.
Ground Control Station
Before a launch, the Ground Control Station is responsible for predicting the landing area.
After a launch, the Ground Control Station is responsible for:
- tracking the balloons location,
- continuously refining the predicted landing area as telemetry data is received,
- keeping recovery teams informed of the current balloon location and predicted landing area,
- collection and logging of all telemetry data,
- payload operation, and
- the sharing of all information to anyone interested via the BEAR web site.
Depending upon the payload, payload operation may include control of onboard cross-band repeater radio traffic, of video and still frame cameras, of cut down mechanism, etc. Similarly, the sharing of information via the internet may include streaming audio of cross-band repeater radio traffic, live video,
still photos, and status reports in addition to telemetry data.
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