Space Camera 4 (TEDx)
7 Nov 2011
For TEDx 2011, I was asked to do a talk about the ‘space camera’ projects. I decided I’d do a live launch during the talk, and show the images live.
TEDx Delft Video
Flight Statistics
| Cost | €140 (just helium+balloon) |
| Launch | 13:25 (07-11-2011, Delft) |
| Ascent rate | 5.95m/s |
| Burst | 15:11 |
| Touchdown | 15:50 (07-11-2011, Rotterdam) |
| Recovery | 15:57 |
| Flight Time | 2h32m |
| Max. Altitude | 37800m±200m extrapolated |
| Total Weight | ~800g |
| Main Payload | Beagleboard/GPS/Powershot A410/Radio |
| Pictures Taken | 190 Pictures |
| Pictures Sent Live | 32 Pictures |
| Pictures Received Live | 32 Pictures |
| Max Data Rate | 600 baud (bits/s) |
| Radio Power | 10mW (434.653MHz, 8n2) |
Retrieval
We had lost connection to the payload, but someone in Rotterdam found it on the street, and called us up for the $100 bounty. Immediatelly when it landed, a woman got it. It landed 20 meters from the river Maas in Rotterdam. She tried to call us (i didnt pick up, I was attending a TEDx Delft talk, she thought it was a bomb, so “She opened it ” (=ripped the whole front off). Then she called the police, which said “Oh yeah we know about that, it’s not a bomb”, then I called her, picked it up after a 15 minute drive!
Media
Videos
Raw launch footage from keychain camera
Costyn’s Video during launch
Images
Acknowledgements
Daniela; Mathijs, the universalis; Onno and Toine for the talk support; Jacco Hoekstra and Simone for the opportunity; the whole TEDxDelft crew; UKHAS members, specifically Philip (yet again), James and ‘Darkside’ for some last minute tips; Wouter, Wouter and Costyn for the help; All the operators who tuned in to help with the transmission; The videoguys at the auditorium.
Resources
- Twitter Feed
- TODO(tzaman): Add microprocessor code.
- TODO(tzaman): Add printed circuit board (PCB) design files
