CloudView
Getting a knack for it
Overview
Initiated in 2022 and launched in September 2023, CloudView aimed to be an opportunity for GU Orbit members to train, test and hone their satellite skills before our next satellite endeavour, Astraeus-01, after the OirthirSAT team had to leave because of the terms in winning the £600,000 LaunchUK bid. Cloudview endeavoured to achieve this by bringing an operational platform to near-space conditions with a high-altitude balloon.
STATUS | Launched & Recovered |
WEIGHT | 3.5 kg |
SIZE | 37.5×28×26 cm |
ALTITUDE | ~35 km |
CAMERA | NIR/G/B |
POWER | max 15W |
FREQUENCY | 434.868 MHz |
MODULATION | LoRa |
LAUNCH BALLOON | 3.5 m³ He |
Specifications
Aim
To be a test platform for running our software with some of the other peripheral equipment that a standard satellite would need, such as communication systems, an On-Board Computer, imaging systems and more, alongside additional equipment and systems needed for a high-altitude balloon mission.
The Platform
Suspended by the helium-filled balloon, the operational platform contained a NIR+Green+Blue (NGB) camera as the imaging payload, MSP430 as the OBC, Nvidia Jetson Nano to run the software, HAB-FLEXTRAC-434 for the communication system, a 20,000 mAh battery and a chemical-based exothermic device all contained within a 37.5 by 28 by 26 cm³ polystyrene box. Additionally, a rotational dampening system, which also acted as a radar reflector, and a 1.5m parachute were attached to the operational platform too.
▲ Estimated Path of Balloon
◀ Estimated Altitude Graph
Launch day
At 7am on the 17th of September 2023, the payload, attached to the helium balloon, was released. The system reached an altitude of 38km before the balloon popped and the operational platform was released, deploying its parachute. The operational platform, launched from Dalnaspidal, travelled North East, passing over the river Spey and the town of Aberlour, finally landing in the ward of Keith & Cullen where, the now honorary GU Orbit member, Colin, noticed CloudView in his field, contacted us and secured it until we could arrive to bring it home.