Saturday 8/18/12 Update!

This email just came in from Bob, KF5LWA

The STBLT   (South Texas Balloon Launch Team)  will conduct it’s next
launch of a balloon carrying Amateur Radio on 8/18 from the Wharton,
Texas Airport. at 10:00 am.  This is an annual affair that
dates back to 1990.  BLT – 31 is the 31st balloon going to the edge
of space.

If you cannot be there, in person,  you can follow the ground track on
the internet through APRS.  Just type in W5ACM-9 into any APRS
application on the internet.

Here is the tentative payload manifest for BLT-31:
Analog NTSC Live Camera Video = 2.4 GHz FM 500 mW
APRS GPS Downlink = 144.390 MHz W5ACM-8 FM 300 mW
2M Parrot Repeater with Martin-2 SSTV Photos and GPS voice data
=147.500 FM 500 mW
Automatic video recording system looking straight down
Analog NTSC Live Camera Video = 1255 MHz FM 900 mW
Remote Control of Camera Selection
Cross-band FM Repeater Uplink = 446.000 FM & Downlink = 147.435 MHz FM
1W
APRS GPS Downlink = 144.390 MHz W5ACM-9 FM 250 mW
Digital Camera with a picture every 15 seconds
Digital Video Camera Recording System with Three Hours Capacity
Audi Beeper
Cross-band Remote Controlled Station Uplink = 70cm & Downlink = 50.350
MHz AM 400mW
Solar-Powered 20M PSK-31 Beacon with Temp, Location and Altitude
Telemetry 14.071 MHz 400mW
Kind Regards, Scott WA5LHM