| 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-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.
Project context
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
October 26 953 PDT: Balloon released after an attempted titration to 0.5 kg of free lift. Moderate winds made this difficult. However, within a few dozen seconds of release the balloon began to descend, and was caught barely within the southwestern boundaries of Brigantino park. A large leak at the top seal was discovered, motivating the decision to fold the envelope over. The balloon was re-filled and observed for 10 minutes for second release.
October 26 1014 PDT: Balloon released at approximate 1.5 m/s ascent with initial motion to the southwest.
| Balloon Launches | |
|---|---|
| 2014-15 | SSI-19 • 20 • 21 • 22 |
| 2015-16 | SSI-23(a) • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 |
| 2016-17 | 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 |
| 2017-18 | |
| 2018-19 | 83 • 86 • 87 • 90 • 91 |
| 2019-20 | 92 • 93 • 97 |
| V • E | |