The countdown has begun for a space launch from the hub of the Darling Downs.
This Sunday students from QUT's Electrical Engineering Student Society (QUT EESS) will send their high-tech weather balloon into the stratosphere, right from the Dalby cricket grounds.
It will be laden with two cameras, GPS and radio tracking devices, a Geiger counter, an accelerometer and sensors to measure temperature, humidity and air pressure during its journey.
"We're sending this up to an altitude of 30km, which is the point where you can see the curvature of the Earth and the deepening shades of blue in the atmosphere as it melts away into the emptiness of space," said project Leader Deyan Zafirov.
"We are super excited to see the range of data we collect throughout the trip. We expect to see a fair amount of alpha, beta and gamma radiation coming from the Sun and other celestial objects.
"And the pictures are going to be breathtaking.
"We're doing this for love of science and the thrill of collecting what promises to be interesting hard data. In the spirit of collaboration, we'll make the data and images we collect available to QUT's various other clubs as well as school and the general public."
All circuitry attached to the sensors were built from scratch by QUT EESS club members, as well as the inflation device for the balloon's helium tank.
The balloon will expand to about seven metres in diameter as it reaches the stratosphere, and once it pops at a height of 30km, it will fall back to Earth, with a parachute deploying at 15km to soften the landing.
Club President Blake Fuller said that could be anywhere within 400km of the cricket ground, but more likely closer to 50km.
"The sensors will be cushioned inside a Styrofoam box so we don't anticipate any breakages," Blake said.
"The whole journey could take between two and five hours, depending on many variables, including wind.
"We'll be tracking the whole thing in real time so that we can predict the landing site as accurately as possible, and will have some extra help from an amateur radio group in Dalby.
"We'd love the local community to take pictures of the balloon if they see it in flight and post them to our facebook page. We also welcome any interested locals to come to the cricket ground and watch the launch - we're all for sharing our love of science and engineering."
The public can access the images and data collected from the clubs website, www.quteess.com.
The QUT Electrical Engineering Student Society has been running since August 2013. Its Stratosphere Balloon Project has been funded through QUT 's Student Clubs and Projects (SCAP) Grants program and sponsorship from camera manufacturer Contour.
Through its SCAP program, QUT makes available $250,000 per year to student-led clubs and groups, with a special focus on student project teams. Learn more about student life at QUT.
Launch Details:
- When: Sunday February 8 (weather permitting), around 8am
- Where: Cricket ground, Owen St, Dalby, QLD
- Who: QUT Electrical Engineering Student Society (QUT EESS)
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Media contact:
Kate Haggman, QUT Media, 07 3138 0358, kate.haggman@qut.edu.au
