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SSI-23 Gemini was the 23rd launch of SSI Balloons and the first launch for the inexperienced all-freshman team. It flew 155.10 kilometers over a course of 3 hours and 20 minutes, reaching an altitude of 33 Kilometers before landing in a University of California research facility. It was a complete success, querying kinetic and atmospheric data, logging data, powering heaters, never using them because of internal insulation, generating current with a solar panel, capturing beautiful shots with a camera, orienting the GPS upward with a gimbal, and dropping a paper plane at a specific altitude.  

SSI-23 Gemini was the 23rd launch of SSI Balloons and the first launch for the inexperienced all-freshman team.  

It was a complete success, querying kinetic and atmospheric data, logging data, powering heaters, never using them because of internal insulation, generating current with a solar panel, capturing beautiful shots with a camera, orienting the GPS upward with a gimbal, and dropping a paper plane at a specific altitude. It flew 155.10 kilometers over a course of 3 hours and 20 minutes, landing in a University of California research facility.  

== Pre-Launch ==

== Pre-Launch ==

The Arduino based payload measured time, acceleration, magnetic fields, orientation, temperature, pressure, light intensity, solar panel current, and solar panel voltage. It was capable of self regulating its temperature with heaters, orienting its SPOT GPS upright with a custom gimbal, and dropping a payload at a specified altitude with a stepper motor.  

The Arduino based payload measured time, acceleration, magnetic fields, orientation, temperature, pressure, light intensity, solar panel current, and solar panel voltage. It was capable of self regulating its temperature with heaters, orienting its SPOT GPS upright with a custom gimbal, and dropping a payload at a specified altitude with a stepper motor.  

== Launch site ==a

== Launch site ==

[[File:SSI-23_12.jpg | left | thumb| <center> The launch site </center>]]

[[File:SSI-23_12.jpg | left | thumb| <center> The launch site </center>]]

SSI-23 was launched from a park near 2093 San Juan Drive, Hollister, CA at 11:39AM. The conditions were not too sunny or windy, providing a great start as the balloons were picked up by the easterly drafts.  

SSI-23 was launched from a park near 2093 San Juan Drive, Hollister, CA at 11:39AM. The team left campus at 5:30AM, and was mostly ready to launch. Everything was working the night before, and the only change made was the addition of a power cable to the keychain camera. The conditions were not too sunny or windy, providing a great start as the balloons were picked up by the easterly drafts.  

== The Flight ==

== The Flight ==

[[File:SSI-23_00.png | right | thumb| <center> 33Km view</center>]]

[[File:SSI-23_00.png | right | thumb| <center> 33Km view</center>]]

SSI-23 was outfitted with a balloon with about .5 net Kg of lift.  

SSI-23 was outfitted with a balloon with about .5 net Kg of lift.  

Once the rope was cut, the balloon accelerated upwards, and immediately began to spin on its horizontal axis, an unforeseen consequence of the selfie stick. Despite this, the payload never fell apart, and it successfully flew 155.10 kilometers East at 79°.  

Once the rope was cut, the balloon accelerated upwards, and immediately began to spin on its horizontal axis, an unforeseen consequence of the selfie stick. Despite this, the payload never fell apart, and it successfully flew 155.10 kilometers East at 79°.  

It ended up in the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources experimental range, which was interesting given our choice of decorations.  

It ended up in the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources experimental range, which was interesting given our choice of decorations.  

== Debriefing ==

== Debriefing ==

SSI-23 was a success and fulfilled all of the initial goals set out by the team.  

SSI-23 was a success and fulfilled all of the initial goals set out by the team.  

*Successful data collection and logging

*Successful data collection and logging

*Successful implementation of a deployment mechanism for dropping an object at a specified altitude

*Successful implementation of a deployment mechanism for dropping an object at a specified altitude