We will include our flight data on this page as well as photos of experiments conducted by students.
Google Flight Path
Flight Data 2011
This is the data from the experimental module data logger. Recorded was external and internal temp, and humidity.
Polymer Balls
Experimental testing 2011
The student here is graphing the Stress vs. Strain curve for polymer balls prior to launch. After exposure to near space conditions the polymer ball lost most of their elasticity. The student was uncertain as to the cause of the change. Low temperatures or cosmic radiation. Also the module sat in the sun for a prolonged period of time due to difficulties in finding it.
The experimental set up includes a force sensor applying a force on the ball with a motion sensor recording displacement.
The student here is graphing the Stress vs. Strain curve for polymer balls prior to launch. After exposure to near space conditions the polymer ball lost most of their elasticity. The student was uncertain as to the cause of the change. Low temperatures or cosmic radiation. Also the module sat in the sun for a prolonged period of time due to difficulties in finding it.
The experimental set up includes a force sensor applying a force on the ball with a motion sensor recording displacement.
Ultra Cool Test Chamber
Initial low temperature testing with the first version of the experimental module, electronic equipment, polymer balls, and biological samples. We reached a low of -35 degrees F. Our target low temperature was -50 degrees F.
Experimental Module Pre-Launch 2011
The structure team finalizes preparations on the experimental module. You can see the polymer balls on the right face. The roach capsule is on the left face. The extreme left is a flap that keeps the still camera mounted on the external face.
Upward Bound Summer 2011 UI Experimental Data
Exterior Temperature
Here is the temperature profile from the exterior sensor. It behaves very characteristically until the middle section. I'm not sure why there is a spike to 40 C. There normally will be a small spike to around -15 C. Initially the sensor started collecting data in my pocket. So the curve at the beginning represents taking it out and strapping it on the module. At the end the ambient temperatures increased and the module was sitting in the sun on the ground.
Interior Temperature
This is the temperature profile in the imaging module. A hand warmer was placed in side the module to maintain temperature. As you can see the temperature dropped to around -15 C and had the same shape as the exterior temperature above. There is a bit of noise when the temperature hits 0 C both going down and up. I'm not sure why. I would like the lower temps to not go below freezing so I have to have my students work on electric heaters. The hand warmers aren't adequate.
Pressure
As you can see pressure drops very close to zero. I think the asymmetric shape of the curve is due to the difference in assent speed near apogee and descent speed. Near apogee the balloon rises slowly over a longer period of time, which accounts for the curved shape at the bottom. Burst is followed by a rapid fall due to the reduced air density reducing drag to a minimum. This accounts for the more or less linear rise of pressure.