BACAR project to be re-introduced

SA AMSAT will be re-introducing the BACAR Project during 2008.

During several informal discussions at Gauteng flea markets, the idea of re-introducing BACAR was discussed.

BACAR is the acronym for Balloon Carrying Amateur Radio.

The activity involved sending up a balloon with an Amateur Radio payload involving a large number of enthusiasts from a launch team, a recovery team to individual radio amateurs tracking the signals from their QTH and reporting in to a mapping team.

Today there are many new challenges to overcome; perhaps the most difficult one is to get the Civil Aviation Authority to grant permission for the launch of a large balloon, or several tethered balloons, to a high altitude.

To discuss the project and to establish a BACAR team, interested radio amateurs, shortwave listeners and electronic hobbyists are invited to a discussion at the SARL National Amateur Radio Centre on Saturday 26 January 2008 at 11:00.

If you are interested in participating in the project, visit www.amsatsa.org.za for more details and to subscribe to a BACAR mailing list.