SSI-93

SSI-93
Designations	CY-7
Launch date	October 26, 2019, 10:14 PDT
Launch site	Brigantino Park, Hollister, CA
Launch coordinates	36.849, -121.433
Flight duration	4h:04m
Flight length	202 km
Flight profile	Folded zero pressure w/ ballast control
Landing time	October 27, 2019, 14:18 PDT
Landing site	9 km SW of Tulare, Tulare County, CA
Landing coordinates	36.164, -119.431
←SSI-92 SSI Balloon Launches SSI-97→

SSI-93 (project designation CY-7) was the seventh launch of Project Cycloon on October 26, 2019. It was the zero pressure balloon equipped with altitude control (ballast mechanism), and launched alongside two other zero-pressure balloons at Onboarding. It was the first balloon in the folded topology as a result of a notably eventful filling, and consequently also experienced a noteable post-landing.

Configuration

Balloon: 0.8 mil polyethylene tubing, folded topology, width 2.5 m, length 10 m, volume unknown. Total mass 1 kg with fill tube (PVC of length approximately 12 inches and diameter 1/2 inch).

Avionics: TinyGPS, Teensy 3.2, BMP 280 transmitting at adjustable intervals over Rockblock. SPOT Trace. Ballast control; nichrome cutdown; GPS power reset MOSFET.

Power: 12 L91 lithium AA batteries. 3 L91 lithium AA batteries on resistive heater and cutdown.

Ballast: Legacy valbal mechanism with 300 g ballast.

Payload: Half valbal-style polycarbonate cylinder within styrofoam enclosure. Mass 1.25 kg including ballast.

Mass budget: 2.26 kg total.

Flight synopsis

Ascent rates against altitude

Flight profile

Conditions at the launch site were ideal. Inflation was remarkably uneventful.

October 26 953 PDT: October 26 1014 PDT:

Flight trajectory