The mission of LaSPACE is “To enhance Space and Aerospace related research,
education, and public awareness throughout the State of Louisiana and thereby
promote mathematics/science education, training of professionals and economic
development.” It promotes scientific research, workforce development and public
outreach in order to develop and strengthen long-term research capabilities within
Louisiana that will make significant contributions to the research and technology
Mission Directorates of NASA while supporting the goals of the state. It releases
an annual call for proposals to undergraduate teams across the U.S. and Canada to
propose for a slot on a HASP balloon flight. The program provides undergraduate
and graduate students with genuine experience in science and engineering project
development and the CSBF provides launch services and support. Since 2006 the
project has had a good run of successful missions. It was conceived by Dr. Greg
Guzik to provide students with flight opportunities that are intermediate between
those available with small latex sounding balloons and Earth orbiting satellites,
providing training for the next generation of aerospace scientists and engineers.
See Chapter 10 for further details.
The HASP support vehicle is based on flight proven hardware and software and
uses 311,485 m
3
(11 million ft
3
) thin film polyethylene, helium filled balloons to
carry multiple student-supplied payloads to altitudes of ~36 km (~120,000 ft) at
an ascent rate of 1,000 ft/minute for durations of up to 20 hours. The platform is
currently designed with 12 “seats” to accommodate eight payloads of ~3 kg (6.6
lb) and four large payloads of ~20 kg (44 lb). A standard interface is provided for
each student payload for power, serial telemetry, discrete commands and analog
output. In addition to telemetering payload data in real-time, HASP will archive
data on board. The four large payload seats are on the top of the central structure
while the eight small ones are mounted on fiberglass outrigger booms. The small
payloads may be set up for nadir pointing. The core structure of the platform is a
welded aluminum gondola frame 112 cm (44 in) long, 91.5 cm (36 in) wide and
51 cm (20 in) tall. The HASP vehicle is installed on a CSBF frame that provides
support for the payloads’ control equipment and the attach points for suspension
cables, crush pads, and the ballast hopper. The command and control subsystem
provides the means for receiving and processing uplinked commands, acquiring
and archiving payload data, downlinking status information, and controlling the
student payloads. It consists of three primary modules: the Flight Control Unit
manages communications, the Serial Control Unit provides a serial link to each
individual student payload, and the Data Archive Unit records in-flight data. The
primary power source is 11 cell lithium battery packs, eight of which will supply
~29 to 32 volts for ~270 amp-hours at +20°C.
The HASP program has flown ~130 student-built payloads engaging over 1,400
undergraduate and graduate students from 43 universities, colleges and minority
serving institutions distributed across 21 continental U.S. states plus Puerto Rico
and Alberta, Canada.
210 The Balloon World
education, and public awareness throughout the State of Louisiana and thereby
promote mathematics/science education, training of professionals and economic
development.” It promotes scientific research, workforce development and public
outreach in order to develop and strengthen long-term research capabilities within
Louisiana that will make significant contributions to the research and technology
Mission Directorates of NASA while supporting the goals of the state. It releases
an annual call for proposals to undergraduate teams across the U.S. and Canada to
propose for a slot on a HASP balloon flight. The program provides undergraduate
and graduate students with genuine experience in science and engineering project
development and the CSBF provides launch services and support. Since 2006 the
project has had a good run of successful missions. It was conceived by Dr. Greg
Guzik to provide students with flight opportunities that are intermediate between
those available with small latex sounding balloons and Earth orbiting satellites,
providing training for the next generation of aerospace scientists and engineers.
See Chapter 10 for further details.
The HASP support vehicle is based on flight proven hardware and software and
uses 311,485 m
3
(11 million ft
3
) thin film polyethylene, helium filled balloons to
carry multiple student-supplied payloads to altitudes of ~36 km (~120,000 ft) at
an ascent rate of 1,000 ft/minute for durations of up to 20 hours. The platform is
currently designed with 12 “seats” to accommodate eight payloads of ~3 kg (6.6
lb) and four large payloads of ~20 kg (44 lb). A standard interface is provided for
each student payload for power, serial telemetry, discrete commands and analog
output. In addition to telemetering payload data in real-time, HASP will archive
data on board. The four large payload seats are on the top of the central structure
while the eight small ones are mounted on fiberglass outrigger booms. The small
payloads may be set up for nadir pointing. The core structure of the platform is a
welded aluminum gondola frame 112 cm (44 in) long, 91.5 cm (36 in) wide and
51 cm (20 in) tall. The HASP vehicle is installed on a CSBF frame that provides
support for the payloads’ control equipment and the attach points for suspension
cables, crush pads, and the ballast hopper. The command and control subsystem
provides the means for receiving and processing uplinked commands, acquiring
and archiving payload data, downlinking status information, and controlling the
student payloads. It consists of three primary modules: the Flight Control Unit
manages communications, the Serial Control Unit provides a serial link to each
individual student payload, and the Data Archive Unit records in-flight data. The
primary power source is 11 cell lithium battery packs, eight of which will supply
~29 to 32 volts for ~270 amp-hours at +20°C.
The HASP program has flown ~130 student-built payloads engaging over 1,400
undergraduate and graduate students from 43 universities, colleges and minority
serving institutions distributed across 21 continental U.S. states plus Puerto Rico
and Alberta, Canada.
210 The Balloon World