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Jul 14, 2010
Space Sphere Planning
Wherein we discuss and document the planning of a mission to send six HD video cameras into the stratosphere in order to get a fully rotateable spherical panoramic video of the ascent to 15 miles up and subsequent descent back to earth.
Jul 9, 2010
Anthony Ordon:
Aside from the orientation changes you mentioned, how are you planning to stabalize the camera's themselves? In the helicopter video it didn't look like there was very much rocking back and forth. But on a windy day I can see a weather ballon having a bit of trouble keeping the cameras straight up and down.
Jul 9, 2010
Me:
Gravity will go a long way toward making sure the camera on the bottom is pointing down and the one on top pointing up. Wind would affect yaw more than roll, I'm guessing.
Jul 14, 2010
Me:
We can put fins on one (or two opposite) vertical surfaces which should help reduce the yaw rotation to always point consistently depending on wind direction. This should help minimize chaotic rotations.
Jul 16, 2010
Me:
Actually, the EOSS site talks about this topic a bit. I've added some information from their site to the Space Sphere - EOSS Tidbits wave
Jul 11, 2010
Trenton Kennedy:
What's the cost of sending the balloon up for one trip? Would it be worth doing a proof of concept launch first? Load it up with the GPS and estimated weight. Make sure it can handle the weight and there's no other unforeseen issues before we send up all the expensive equipment.
Jul 14, 2010
Me:
How are you coming with finding answers to these questions?
Jul 14, 2010
Me:
I'm thinking about ideas on how to ensure that the cameras will always be in the same position relative to each other. That is, the cameras can be attached to the payload one day and attached on a different day and they won't have moved.
I'm currently thinking about a custom slab (a piece of lexan, maybe) with alignment pins that the camera mounts to. The pins slide into hardened holes in the payload container.
The payload container can still be a styrofoam cooler with this method. There are chemical that will cause reactions with styrofoam that will cause the pellets to shrink and harden.
Thoughts?
Jul 14, 2010
Me:
I've a ticket in with GoPro's support system regarding higher capacity batteries.
Case #5689 with GoPro
Update for Case #56892 - "Battery"
Hello Caleb,
Unfortunately, the batteries are proprietary and there are no after market options available at this time. The HD Battery backpack are expected to be released late Summer/early fall 2010. This will doublt the life of your camera to roughly 5 1/2 hours. You can sign up for our online newsletter to be notified of the release:
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Jul 14, 2010
Me:
Edge of Space Sciences in Colorado have information on their website that should prove useful. Let's use replies to this message as a means to compile useful stuff from their site.
Aug 3, 2010
Me:
I've thought about it some more and think that a styrofoam cooler may not be the best choice. We'll want something we're in control of. I like the idea of building a custom enclosure out of foam core material. I think it can be purchased at any craft store. This will give us the advantage of being able to construct a frame to the exact specifications of our payload container.
Here's some info on EOSS' site about foam core payload construction.
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