Balloon Nozzle Height Tests 2   

On Saturday we conducted the follow-on balloon nozzle lowering tests  Our earlier testing with small and medium balloons make it
appear that the solution was in hand. It's never as easy as it seems. The large 4000g balloon behaved (or misbehaved), very different than the smaller model. Our plan was to conduct one test with air in the balloon than a second with helium.  It took about a dozen air inflations to find the techniques for keeping the balloon nozzle low. Instead of a three hour test it took just over eight hours.

In the end we had success. We were able to repeatably put the balloon nozzle at 40 inches off the ground at peak balloon fill.
The day was also a good equipment shakedown. We discover that our helium flowmeter is broke and the vans generator needs a tuneup.
We just need to sell eight space ads to cover it...
                   
          
Launch bag layout                                       Balloon Layout                                              Start of airfill
 
  Deflating                                                                                Trying again
     
Everybody getting into the act                     Full inflation
   
 Here's Karl !!!                                                      and Ross                                            and Paul
 
                                                                                  The Team

   

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