We launched our third BARREL payload yesterday and recovered a payload, all on the same day. The launch was smooth and our team was able to perform most of it on our own, while being guided by the professional CSBF personnel. Most people will do various tasks during the launch and mine involved setting up the device to hold the balloon, holding the top of the balloon during inflation, and then holding and running with the payload on launch.
A balloon launch, depending on the size of the balloon, can take anywhere from 1 to 6 hours from start to finish (assuming perfect conditions). For a 0.3 million cubic foot balloon like ours, the layout and preparation are relatively simple and don't require the use of cranes, trucks, or bulldozers (unlike the large balloons). A long 180' cloth is laid out on the ground and the ~100' long balloon is taken out of its' box and laid flat on top of it. The balloon is in a protective casing which will be removed before flight.
The balloon has a tube leading into it on the side near the top of the balloon. This is the inflation tube where helium enters the balloon. Inflation begins and the bubble begins to expand. When the balloon is fully inflated, the bubble stands about about 30' high. After the balloon is inflated the tube is tied off. The balloon is clamped at the base of the bubble and this clamp is released by cutting a rope. The bubble rises swiftly up into the air and takes up the remainder of the balloon followed by the parachute and payload at the base. Once the balloon is carrying the weight of the payload, it can be released.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Cape Evans, the Ice caves, and Penguins, oh my! (pt 2)
After communing with the penguins for about an hour and half out on the frigid sea ice, we resumed our journey toward Cape Evans. We passed Inaccessible Island and the location of the ice caves along the way. After about 20 minutes we got through the snow and were able to continue under our own power across the thinner naked sea ice.
After rounding Cape Evans, we pulled up in front of Scott's Terra Nova hut. The hut sat on the edge of a promontory on the lowest slopes of Mount Erebus. We disembarked the delta and walked across ice, thin in some places and riddled with cracks, up toward a trail that led up the point and to the hut. Our group gathered at the hut and were led inside in small groups. We were each given a flashlight and given a stern warning not to touch anything, as it could be contaminated with bacteria!
The interior of the Terra Nova hut was similar to the Discovery hut except it was better preserved and was actually used as a shelter whereas the Discovery hut was used only for storage. There were food stuffs, scientific equipment, and even a dead penguin. The penguin, laid out on a table, was perfectly preserved and did not show any evidence of rot. There was also a box of penguin eggs and many seal skins. One of the bunks was inscribed with the names of those who had died on expedition as of 1916.
After rounding Cape Evans, we pulled up in front of Scott's Terra Nova hut. The hut sat on the edge of a promontory on the lowest slopes of Mount Erebus. We disembarked the delta and walked across ice, thin in some places and riddled with cracks, up toward a trail that led up the point and to the hut. Our group gathered at the hut and were led inside in small groups. We were each given a flashlight and given a stern warning not to touch anything, as it could be contaminated with bacteria!
The interior of the Terra Nova hut was similar to the Discovery hut except it was better preserved and was actually used as a shelter whereas the Discovery hut was used only for storage. There were food stuffs, scientific equipment, and even a dead penguin. The penguin, laid out on a table, was perfectly preserved and did not show any evidence of rot. There was also a box of penguin eggs and many seal skins. One of the bunks was inscribed with the names of those who had died on expedition as of 1916.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Cape Evans, the Ice caves, and Penguins, oh my! (pt 1)
Much has happened here in Antarctica and abroad since my last entry...
I've had the opportunity to travel around a bit...
I visited Richard F. Scott's Discovery Hut at Cape Evans, which was quite an experience. The trip out was over the sea ice along a snow road marked by flags. The first time we got stuck in thick snow but the driver was able to get us out by moving forward and back, side to side, and other creative driving techniques...
A few minutes after we got out of the first drift we got stuck again and this time we had to dig out. Our fellow passangers and I grabbed shovels and planks and got out of the delta and began to shovel snow out from under the wheels and through the thick drift. Unfortunately we got stuck soon after this again...Eventually, a tracked bulldozer / snowplow known as a challenger came to our rescue... This vehicle was able to tow the 14000lb delta all the way out to Cape Evans through even the toughest snow drift.
While we were being towed we encountered a group of penguins. Everyone wanted to stop and look at them and luckily, so did the challenger driver. We got out and everyone gathered around in a tight little group, (there were about 18 of us) and began to photograph this group of six Emperor penguins. They were majestic, noble animals and yet had the feeling of being cute and cuddly at the same time... (maybe because they are small?) The six penguins approached our group but stood off at a distance of maybe 50 feet or so.
They talked to each other in their strange high squawks as if they were conversing about the strange hominids who have invaded their home, and how funny they look in their silly red parkas, and why (if they are so smart) haven't they learned to communicate with other species? The penguins' mode of locomotion is very curious. They will walk along and then when they tire of walking, will jump down and slide forward along their bellies until they come to stop by friction, then get up and walk until they are able to slide again. I imagine if they could slide indefinitely, this is how they would prefer to travel (wouldn't you?)
Eventually, the group tired of us and began to wander off. After much squawking and shaking of beaks, two of the penguins broke off from the group and began to walk back toward us. By this point most of us were sitting on a snow drift taking pictures and talking quietly. These two penguins approached our group to within spitting distance, maybe a few meters away. They made their way down the line of humans, giving each of us an appraisal and a deep look. As they continued their inspection, they would talk to each other and shake and bob their heads and gesture with their wings, sometimes slowly and meditatively and sometimes forcefully. I was standing on the end of the line and the pair of penguins approached me at last. One of the penguins looked me in the eye and I felt as if I was face to face with another intelligent, sentient creature rather than a mere bird...
I've had the opportunity to travel around a bit...
I visited Richard F. Scott's Discovery Hut at Cape Evans, which was quite an experience. The trip out was over the sea ice along a snow road marked by flags. The first time we got stuck in thick snow but the driver was able to get us out by moving forward and back, side to side, and other creative driving techniques...
A few minutes after we got out of the first drift we got stuck again and this time we had to dig out. Our fellow passangers and I grabbed shovels and planks and got out of the delta and began to shovel snow out from under the wheels and through the thick drift. Unfortunately we got stuck soon after this again...Eventually, a tracked bulldozer / snowplow known as a challenger came to our rescue... This vehicle was able to tow the 14000lb delta all the way out to Cape Evans through even the toughest snow drift.
While we were being towed we encountered a group of penguins. Everyone wanted to stop and look at them and luckily, so did the challenger driver. We got out and everyone gathered around in a tight little group, (there were about 18 of us) and began to photograph this group of six Emperor penguins. They were majestic, noble animals and yet had the feeling of being cute and cuddly at the same time... (maybe because they are small?) The six penguins approached our group but stood off at a distance of maybe 50 feet or so.
They talked to each other in their strange high squawks as if they were conversing about the strange hominids who have invaded their home, and how funny they look in their silly red parkas, and why (if they are so smart) haven't they learned to communicate with other species? The penguins' mode of locomotion is very curious. They will walk along and then when they tire of walking, will jump down and slide forward along their bellies until they come to stop by friction, then get up and walk until they are able to slide again. I imagine if they could slide indefinitely, this is how they would prefer to travel (wouldn't you?)
Eventually, the group tired of us and began to wander off. After much squawking and shaking of beaks, two of the penguins broke off from the group and began to walk back toward us. By this point most of us were sitting on a snow drift taking pictures and talking quietly. These two penguins approached our group to within spitting distance, maybe a few meters away. They made their way down the line of humans, giving each of us an appraisal and a deep look. As they continued their inspection, they would talk to each other and shake and bob their heads and gesture with their wings, sometimes slowly and meditatively and sometimes forcefully. I was standing on the end of the line and the pair of penguins approached me at last. One of the penguins looked me in the eye and I felt as if I was face to face with another intelligent, sentient creature rather than a mere bird...
Thursday, November 19, 2009
First Post
Hi everyone,
Sorry for the delay, but it's been really busy down here at McMurdo...
After spending a few days in Christchurch, NZ... I return to my hotel room to find a note stuffed under the door that tells me to report to the International Antarctic Center at 0600 the next day. As I rise that morning before the sun I realize that I will not see nighttime for a very long time. In the morning I board a shuttle at 0515 and head over to the Clothing Distribution Center (aka the CDC), where I get my extreme cold weather (ECW) gear and check in for the flight. All the passangers and their luggage are weighed and checked in. We are then given an hour to get breakfast in the visitors center and then have to watch a video about life in Antarctica.
After the briefing, we go through a brief security screen and are put on buses driven by uniformed USAF personnel. We are driven over to a C17, which is one of the largest aircraft I've ever seen, and certainly the largest I've ever been on. We board the plane, which has a few normal aircraft seats in the middle along with many jump seats along the side, pallets of luggage (our luggage), and a huge tank of liquid helium riding along with us. We take off from Christchurch International Airport and head south for McMurdo.
The flight is amazingly smooth and lasts about 5 hours. We are given an opportunity to purchase souvenours and a tour of the flight deck. At around 2pm we land on the Ice Runway at McMurdo Station where we get off the plane onto a large wheeled vehicle known as a "delta". It drives us from the airfield to McMurdo station where we are given yet another briefing. After this we get the keys to our rooms and can finally relax for a little bit... I take my luggage to my room and then go out for a walk around town in all my cold weather gear...
More to follow soon...
Sorry for the delay, but it's been really busy down here at McMurdo...
After spending a few days in Christchurch, NZ... I return to my hotel room to find a note stuffed under the door that tells me to report to the International Antarctic Center at 0600 the next day. As I rise that morning before the sun I realize that I will not see nighttime for a very long time. In the morning I board a shuttle at 0515 and head over to the Clothing Distribution Center (aka the CDC), where I get my extreme cold weather (ECW) gear and check in for the flight. All the passangers and their luggage are weighed and checked in. We are then given an hour to get breakfast in the visitors center and then have to watch a video about life in Antarctica.
After the briefing, we go through a brief security screen and are put on buses driven by uniformed USAF personnel. We are driven over to a C17, which is one of the largest aircraft I've ever seen, and certainly the largest I've ever been on. We board the plane, which has a few normal aircraft seats in the middle along with many jump seats along the side, pallets of luggage (our luggage), and a huge tank of liquid helium riding along with us. We take off from Christchurch International Airport and head south for McMurdo.
The flight is amazingly smooth and lasts about 5 hours. We are given an opportunity to purchase souvenours and a tour of the flight deck. At around 2pm we land on the Ice Runway at McMurdo Station where we get off the plane onto a large wheeled vehicle known as a "delta". It drives us from the airfield to McMurdo station where we are given yet another briefing. After this we get the keys to our rooms and can finally relax for a little bit... I take my luggage to my room and then go out for a walk around town in all my cold weather gear...
More to follow soon...
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