Check out the Project Readiness Package to see the project proposal and initial requirements as laid out by our customer.

RIT’s Space Exploration (SPEX) group performs high altitude balloon (HAB) launches. One reason for a HAB launch is to test cubesat systems relatively cheaply and easily. An instrumentation platform is needed as a base station for these HAB missions. The instrumentation platform will operate in a near space environment, and will need to communicate with a ground base station; thus, a major portion of this base functionality is the communication system. There have been platforms and balloon launches in the past (METEOR 2005), but they were not all successful and did not provide a great deal of functionality.

The goals of this project are to create and test a base system to acquire and transmit location and telemetry information and video, interface with GPS and transceivers, and receive and execute ground commands. The final design must will be integrated with a partner project “Data Acquisition and Control System”. These two systems combined will form a functional prototype that can be used for future SPEX missions. The resulting design and prototype will be well documented and tested with the launch of the functioning system on a HAB mission.

For more detailed information check out our Problem Definition!

Project Name

High Altitude Balloon Communications (HABIP-COMMS)

Project Number

P17104

Partner Project

High Altitude Balloon Data Acquisition and Control System (HABIP-DAQCS)

Start Term

2161

End Term

2165

Project Guide

Vince Burolla - vabddm@rit.edu

Primary Customer

Dr. Dorin Patru - dxpeee@rit.edu

Sponsor (financial support)

Boeing

Planning & Execution

Project Photos and Videos

Imagine RIT

Gate Reviews

Problem Definition

Systems Design

Preliminary Detailed Design

Detailed Design

Build & Test Prep

Subsystem Build & Test

Integrated System Build & Test

Integrated System Build & Test with Customer Demo

Customer Handoff & Final Project Documentation