University students' first Amateur Radio balloon mission a success

Members of the University of Tennessee Amateur Radio Club (AA4UT) launched their first balloon carrying Amateur Radio equipment on May 14.

The team used APRS to track the balloon - designated UX-1 - which had ATV equipment on board to provide a video feed back to Earth. The balloon reached an estimated altitude of approximately 52,000 feet (the GPS units would not read above 32,000 feet) and covered some 90 miles before bursting and descending by parachute. The balloon payload was recovered intact.

Mike Coffey, KJ4Z, and Dan Bowen, K2VOL, were the prime movers behind the project. "This is an outstanding effort by young Amateur Radio operators in pursuit of their hobby," commented Tennessee Assistant Section Manager David
Bower, K4PZT. Bower says the UT ham club has greatly benefited from the support of local radio amateurs dedicated to promoting Amateur Radio to younger licensees and prospective licensees. "Thanks to these local hams,
they have an excellent HF amateur radio station at the University of Tennessee, including a tower and HF beam," Bower said.

Another launch in the works for Saturday June 4 - which may get media coverage by CNN.

There's much more information, videos and photos on the UX-1 Web site

Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The American Radio Relay League

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