Pictures from JP Aerospace's May 11, 2002 "Away 9" flight

JP Aerospace "Away 9" Flight Pictures - Saturday, May 11, 2002

photos and text by Ian Kluft

These are pictures I took of JP Aerospace's "Away 9" high-altitude balloon test flight.

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(1536x1024 1981K) (500x333 32K) Away 9 during launch preparations: PongSat experiments from Fairview Elementary School.

(1536x1024 2047K) (500x333 33K) Away 9 during launch preparations: PongSat experiments from Sherwood Elementary School.

(1536x1024 2360K) (500x333 41K) Away 9 during launch preparations: The instrument frame stands in the open as equipment is readied. JPA member Tracy Boortz stands between the vans.

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(1536x1024 2338K) (500x333 39K) Away 9 during launch preparations: The instrument frame stands in the open as equipment is readied. Behind Away9, Uriah Barnett talks with Monica.

(1536x1024 2098K) (500x333 36K) Away 16 during launch preparations: JPA member Matt Maniscalco (w/ black cap) is walking toward the frame.

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(1536x1024 2208K) (500x333 29K) The Black Rock Desert and the high-gain antenna array.

(1536x1024 2091K) (500x333 27K) Balloon filling for Away 9 begins.

(1536x1024 2084K) (500x333 32K) Away 9 during launch preparations: The crew gets ready. Left to right: Monica, Tracy Boortz, Dale Schornack (w/ red jacket), Uriah Barnett (hand on Away 9 frame), Phoenix Torres. As with many places around the Black Rock Desert playa, the vast flatness of the playa makes it difficult to sense scale. There is a downslope behind Dale down 200 ft in elevation and 1/2 mile to the shore of the lakebed. The mountains in the background are about 10 miles away.

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(1536x1024 2152K) (500x333 26K) Balloon filling for Away 9 is nearing completion.

(1536x1024 2099K) (500x333 28K) Balloon filling for Away 9 is nearing completion. The blue tarp and helium tanks in the foreground will be the balloon-filling area for Away 16.

(1536x1024 1975K) (500x333 19K) Away 9's balloon is being moved from the fill area to the launch area. Everyone has their hands in the air to restrain the balloon as the winds bat it around a little. The main concern is that it should not contact the ground or any of the thorny sagebrush.

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(1536x1024 1948K) (500x333 22K) The balloon is connected to the instrument frame in preparation for launch.

(1536x1024 1998K) (500x333 19K) Away 9's instrument frame has been picked up in final preparations for launch. When the balloon is released, the frame will be thrown into the air as soon as there is tension on the line.

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(1536x1024 1900K) (500x333 15K) Away 9 launch: The balloon is away, the crew is throwing the instrument frame as tension develops on the line.

(1536x1024 1648K) (500x333 8K) Away 9 in flight.

(1536x1024 1563K) (500x333 8K) Away 9 in flight, directly above me.

(1536x1024 2016K) (500x333 7K) Away 9 in flight.

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(1536x1024 2164K) (500x333 27K) Away 9 landing site near Twin Buttes, Nevada. The Selenite Range can be seen in the background to the west. The town of Gerlach is behind them.

(1536x1024 2820K) (500x333 57K) Away 9 landing site.

(1536x1024 2681K) (500x333 57K) Away 9 landing site. Notice the cameras are both facing this direction. This is the same time as the video snapshot where Away 9 filmed me photographing it.

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(1536x1024 2010K) (500x333 30K) Away 9 landing site. The foam has absorbed the force of the hard landing.

(1536x1024 1995K) (500x333 36K) Away 9 landing site. The balloon fragments wadded themselves up in the turbulent descent from 90,000'.

(1536x1024 2731K) (500x333 54K) Away 9 landing site. Aubrey and I agreed this was the primary impact point. There was also a secondary impact point on the other side where another corner hit after one bounce before the frame came to rest between the two impact/bounce points.

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(1536x1024 2054K) (500x333 34K) Away 9 landing site.

(1536x1024 1827K) (500x333 29K) Away 9 landing site.

(1536x1024 2139K) (500x333 33K) About 10 miles south of Trego... Norm and Natalie try to get a bearing on Away 16. Away 9's triangular frame can be seen in the back of Darrel's truck. The Black Rock Desert playa (lakebed) can be seen in the distance.

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(1536x1024 2076K) (500x333 28K) Norm and Natalie try to get a bearing on Away 16. The antenna sticking up in the left side of the photo is on the rack on my truck - I took this photo standing in the bed of the truck.

(1536x1024 2137K) (500x333 34K) On the search for Away 16... A herd of wild horses decide this herd of SUVs and 4x4 trucks is too much for them.

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(1536x1024 2113K) (500x333 25K) Owen demonstrates the real meaning of off-roading while checking out what he thought might have been Away 16. No good...

Back to the Away 9 Pictures

(1536x1024 1981K) (500x333 32K)	Away 9 during launch preparations: PongSat experiments from Fairview Elementary School.
(1536x1024 2047K) (500x333 33K)	Away 9 during launch preparations: PongSat experiments from Sherwood Elementary School.
(1536x1024 2360K) (500x333 41K)	Away 9 during launch preparations: The instrument frame stands in the open as equipment is readied. JPA member Tracy Boortz stands between the vans.
(1536x1024 2338K) (500x333 39K)	Away 9 during launch preparations: The instrument frame stands in the open as equipment is readied. Behind Away9, Uriah Barnett talks with Monica.
(1536x1024 2098K) (500x333 36K)	Away 16 during launch preparations: JPA member Matt Maniscalco (w/ black cap) is walking toward the frame.
(1536x1024 2208K) (500x333 29K)	The Black Rock Desert and the high-gain antenna array.
(1536x1024 2091K) (500x333 27K)	Balloon filling for Away 9 begins.
(1536x1024 2084K) (500x333 32K)	Away 9 during launch preparations: The crew gets ready. Left to right: Monica, Tracy Boortz, Dale Schornack (w/ red jacket), Uriah Barnett (hand on Away 9 frame), Phoenix Torres. As with many places around the Black Rock Desert playa, the vast flatness of the playa makes it difficult to sense scale. There is a downslope behind Dale down 200 ft in elevation and 1/2 mile to the shore of the lakebed. The mountains in the background are about 10 miles away.
(1536x1024 2152K) (500x333 26K)	Balloon filling for Away 9 is nearing completion.
(1536x1024 2099K) (500x333 28K)	Balloon filling for Away 9 is nearing completion. The blue tarp and helium tanks in the foreground will be the balloon-filling area for Away 16.
(1536x1024 1975K) (500x333 19K)	Away 9's balloon is being moved from the fill area to the launch area. Everyone has their hands in the air to restrain the balloon as the winds bat it around a little. The main concern is that it should not contact the ground or any of the thorny sagebrush.
(1536x1024 1948K) (500x333 22K)	The balloon is connected to the instrument frame in preparation for launch.
(1536x1024 1998K) (500x333 19K)	Away 9's instrument frame has been picked up in final preparations for launch. When the balloon is released, the frame will be thrown into the air as soon as there is tension on the line.
(1536x1024 1900K) (500x333 15K)	Away 9 launch: The balloon is away, the crew is throwing the instrument frame as tension develops on the line.
(1536x1024 1648K) (500x333 8K)	Away 9 in flight.
(1536x1024 1563K) (500x333 8K)	Away 9 in flight, directly above me.
(1536x1024 2016K) (500x333 7K)	Away 9 in flight.
(1536x1024 2164K) (500x333 27K)	Away 9 landing site near Twin Buttes, Nevada. The Selenite Range can be seen in the background to the west. The town of Gerlach is behind them.
(1536x1024 2820K) (500x333 57K)	Away 9 landing site.
(1536x1024 2681K) (500x333 57K)	Away 9 landing site. Notice the cameras are both facing this direction. This is the same time as the video snapshot where Away 9 filmed me photographing it.
(1536x1024 2010K) (500x333 30K)	Away 9 landing site. The foam has absorbed the force of the hard landing.
(1536x1024 1995K) (500x333 36K)	Away 9 landing site. The balloon fragments wadded themselves up in the turbulent descent from 90,000'.
(1536x1024 2731K) (500x333 54K)	Away 9 landing site. Aubrey and I agreed this was the primary impact point. There was also a secondary impact point on the other side where another corner hit after one bounce before the frame came to rest between the two impact/bounce points.
(1536x1024 2054K) (500x333 34K)	Away 9 landing site.
(1536x1024 1827K) (500x333 29K)	Away 9 landing site.
(1536x1024 2139K) (500x333 33K)	About 10 miles south of Trego... Norm and Natalie try to get a bearing on Away 16. Away 9's triangular frame can be seen in the back of Darrel's truck. The Black Rock Desert playa (lakebed) can be seen in the distance.
(1536x1024 2076K) (500x333 28K)	Norm and Natalie try to get a bearing on Away 16. The antenna sticking up in the left side of the photo is on the rack on my truck - I took this photo standing in the bed of the truck.
(1536x1024 2137K) (500x333 34K)	On the search for Away 16... A herd of wild horses decide this herd of SUVs and 4x4 trucks is too much for them.
(1536x1024 2113K) (500x333 25K)	Owen demonstrates the real meaning of off-roading while checking out what he thought might have been Away 16. No good...