Away 27 Mission

From the update log at www.jpaerospace.com , it looks like Away 27 is getting close!!

JP, is there a set/target launch date yet?

Also, what are the mission goals/objectives?

Thanks!

Away 27 lifts off Saturday.

We been watching the weather. A very weird mix. In the past seven days there have been three very different forecasts, overcast, thunderstorms, and sun. This close we ignore the forecasts and look at the data ourselves. It looks a go.

Their are two primary mission objectives; The first is to test the high wind launch system in an actual mission. This system, if it works, will dramaticly decrease mission costs. Wind aborts are the single biggest expense in the ATO project. The second is carrying just over 600 student experiments. We thought we were going to have over a thousand but a few of the schools are holding off till fall.

There are several secondary objectives. First is part of a marketing experiment, the $100 Ad project. It worked very well and help establish a price point for the low end. It also is paying all mission costs. Now it time to fly them!

There are lots of small upgrades. The mission gives a good shake down for the modifications. It's the second run of the spread spectrum telemetry system that will be on the next airship.

We're looking at 100,000+ feet for Away 27, with a 40 mile down range recovery. The team rolls out Friday morning. we should be back Monday.

Wish us luck!

JP

John Powell
JP Aerospace
www.jpaerospace.com

Good luck indeed! many people will be looking forward to updates and reports!!

Thanks much for your detailed reply; those of us who don't have the opportunity to actually work on space technology have to get our kicks vicariously.

Another question or two, if you will, about how the Away missions fit into your larger ATO framework? I know a lot of the stuff you're doing is proprietary, but I'm hoping there's some info you could give out that helps your fans and supporters see how your overall goal is progressing.

Specifically, what elements of the Away missions are developing technology or methods for the future?

I understand you have built several Ascender prototypes, and a couple of Dark Sky models as well. Are the Away missions contributing to technology for the ascenders? the DS stations? something else? or are they simply funding top secret work going on elsewhere?

As you said before, the telemetry system is being developed; which ATO component is this for? If I understand correctly from what I've read here and on the JPA website, are you planning to reuse this stuff for all three ships? What about the balloon technology? are you also bringing this toward space-readiness? or are you focusing on something different, like the carbon platform?

again, good luck this weekend!!

-J

Goodluck! (can't wait for monday, to get the latest news!)

No Joy. At least not this weekend. We've had to delay the Away 27 mission till June 3rd due to weather.

It looked like we were going to have 15-34 knot surface winds, which we can handle, but complete overcast, which we can't. The vehicle doesn't mind, however it is illegal to fly in those conditions.

The extra week will be put to good use with some additional testing and twiking.

The Away missions are the workhorses of ATO development. Every new design, component or method gets hauled up to 100,000 feet and put through it's paces. It's not about the big breakthroughs. It's about lots and lots of little breakthroughs. Flying over and over again till you figure it out. Away missions also give us depth of experience and understanding that is, like the commercials say, priceless...

JP

www.jpaerospace.com

Hello, jpowell,

you are testing out all details and elements separately and thus reduce the uncertainties to a large degree. You will know all of them to nearly 100% when there will be the ATO and you will have got this knowledge at the least costs possible.

I find that very very positive, encouraging and teaching lessons.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

I've just posted a couple of pictures of the Away 27 vehicle on the JPA website.

www.jpaerospace.com

They're under the blog/whats new section.

JP

Were you able to launch this weekend?
-J

*eagerly awaits updates*

Mission results and pics are up. Summary: Still healing....

www.jpaerospace.com

ouch! ...

http://www.jpaerospace.com/away27.html

Video from Away 27's on-board camera is up on the JPA site.

www.jpaerospace.com

(on the video page)

JP

Hello, jpowell,

simply because the Away-missions all carry Pong-Sats: Do the DSS's carry Pong-Sats too? Is that imaginable?

I am asking because of Andy Hill's question for ATO-payloads in another thread where I then posted the idea to use a DSS - or an ATO perhaps - for experiments regarding growtth of fungi, seeds etc. near and/or in space.

Perhaps there are students interested in doing such experiments via DSS-Pong-Sats that are exposed to extreme conditions longer than via Away-nnn-Pong-Sats.

What about it?



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

Hi Ekkehard,

We fly PongSats on everything that goes up. The DSS can carry many more PongSats and for much longer durations.

We have a new airship that will fly in September. It's doing a run to 100,000 feet and will also have PongSats on board.

I'm looking forward to carrying PongSats to the moon in my pocket.

JP
www.jpaerospace.com

Why is it illegal if i may ask? Is it because other planes can't see your ascender or is it something else? And how does/will this affect the future missions?

Hello Jon

Just read the latest blog on your website (7/18/2007). with regard to the interference coming from your motors:- are you using the bushless type, if not something like a 10nF ceramic capacitor soldered on the back of each brush to decouple the noise to chassis ground would probably help.

just a thought, disregard if you've tried this already