Stratofox Aerospaced Tracking Team presentation at Pacificon/EmCommWest in Reno, Nevada, May 2, 2009

1. Stratofox Aerospace Tracking Team Presented by Ian Kluft KO6YQ ARRL EmCommWest/ Pacificon 2009 Reno, Nevada May 2, 2009

2. About Stratofox

4. Our team has familiarity with the Black Rock Desert region, a rocket launch site in Northern Nevada

5. Members have experience in high-power rocketry, Ham Radio, 4x4, amateur astronomy, search & rescue, wilderness first responder, etc

6. Our goal is to get invitations to “all the cool launches” for our members and help the civilian entrepreneurial aerospace industry get off the ground

8. The Stratosphere is the layer of the atmosphere from 40,000' to 120,000'

9. Hams call a hidden transmitter search a “foxhunt”

10. The most challenging type of transmitter hunt is one where the transmitter fell from the sky

11. So no one can tell you where they hid it

12. That's what we do

14. First high-altitude rocket recovery in June 2003 – Paragon Labs' Dragoon I (mid-altitude systems test) altitude 16 miles, found 6 miles away

15. Recovered first amateur rocket launched to space, CSXT Space Shot in May 2004 altitude 72 miles, found 18 miles away

16. Recovered 8 high-altitude balloons in 2007-2008 for Stanford University and NASA Ames which flew to altitudes up to 100,000', found up to 80 miles away

18. CSXT Space Shot 2004

19. AeroPac To100K (3 launches) 2005-2006

20. Stanford BioLaunch B07A-F/B08A-B 2007-present

21. Soka University (Japan) CanSat recovery 2008

23. Continued to support Paragon space launch efforts in 2004 and 2005

24. Assistance planned as ground crew for Lunar Lander Challenge Stratofox locates Paragon Dragoon I in 15 minutes (June 2003)

26. Launched 11:12AM May 17, 2004

27. Suborbital flight to 72 mi, 115km, 380,000'

28. Landed 18 mi / 25 km away

29. ARRL news reported on success of “rocket carrying amateur radio”

30. This photo on display in ARRL HQ lobby in Newington CT Photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ

32. almost got there on first day – had to get everyone off mountain before dark

33. rescued two spectators who were also trying to look for it and broke down

34. found it at 6100' elevation around noon on May 18 Stratofox group picture: Will Galloway AE6EY, Ian Kluft KO6YQ, Jeremy Cooper KE6JJJ, Sean Lynch KG6CVV, Randy Palmer WA6LCD, Steve Palmer KA6DHU and Rob Palmer. Not shown: Diane Palmer KC6HVP, Christian Void KF6IHU, Colleen Brennan and Jay Lawson.

36. In July 2004, CSXT analysis of Stratofox audio recording of the sonic boom indicated that booster's parachute was deployed on re-entry.

37. Ground searches were done in August.

39. Nov 15 - BLM notifies CSXT and Stratofox

40. Nov 26 – Stratofox 4x4 expedition in mud/snow recovers the booster hours before a snowstorm Photo by Ken Samuelson KS2R

41. Stratofox recovers CSXT booster Booster lost radio transmitters on re-entry – recovered 6 months later

43. Attempts to reach 100,000' with commercial hobby motors

44. Stratofox supported with air and ground search, radio communications and safety coordination AeroPac To100K launches at Nevada's Black Rock Desert

46. Stratofox supported balloon flights by Stanford University

47. Stratofox supported with air & ground search, communications and safety coordination

48. Stanford was so confident in Stratofox that B07E/F and B08A/B were flown in pairs B07A Jan 2007 near Gilroy, California

49. Stanford BioLaunch balloons B07C May 2007 near Tracy, California B07F Dec 2007 near Los Banos, California B08A Mar 2008 near Merced, California

51. CanSat was not recovered

52. Stratofox was called for help

53. 3x3 mile search area

54. Outlook: very unlikely! Stratofox planned a 3x3 mile visual search area across the Quinn River Sink at the Black Rock Desert

56. With some planning and lots of luck... we found it!

57. A CanSat is the size of a soda can

58. Transmitter was dead

59. Found in visual search Worse than a needle in a haystack: a CanSat in the Black Rock Desert (with dead transmitter!)

60. Soka University CanSat search

61. Soka University CanSat search

62. Soka University CanSat search CanSat handoff at AeroPac holiday party Dec 7, 2008 in Pacifica, CA

64. Lunar Lander Challenge ground crew for Masten Space, Paragon and SpeedUp

65. Sugar Shot 2 Space seeking first amateur launch to space using amateur propellants

66. Various amateur and entrepreneurial projects balloons and rockets as we're invited to help

68. CubeSats in centrifugal “artificial gravity”

69. Satellite launch funding delayed in 2008

70. Stratofox beginning to assist with building high-altitude balloon-drop platform so the research can continue

71. New Stratofox project as of March 2009

72. http://marssociety.org/portal/c/TEMPO3 Image credit: CL Vancil/Mars Society

74. Planned launch at Black Rock Desert in October 2009

75. Stratofox to support clearing the downrange area and search & recovery of the rocket

76. New Stratofox project as of April 2009 Image credit: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

78. The group is still mostly Hams at 55 members

79. Often members who join having other useful skills still choose to get an Amateur Radio license after seeing it in use

80. Spotty/no cell coverage areas require a Ham in every vehicle

81. All vehicles transmit APRS for a “last known position”

82. Rockets and balloons usually transmit APRS

83. Backup beacons may require use of radio direction finding

84. Amateur Radio at Stratofox Photo: Stratofox net control station at CSXT Space Shot on May 17, 2004 Stratofox coordinated observers via Amateur Radio to verify nobody was in the downrange area of the vast Black Rock Desert The countdown resumed at T-60 seconds after Stratofox made the call on CSXT's commercial radio: “Range Safety is GO for launch!” Mike Money AC7TT and Steve Palmer KA6DHU photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ

85. Amateur Radio at Stratofox Photo: monitoring the flight of Stanford BioLaunch B07A near Hollister, CA in March 2007 Bryan Klofas KF6ZEO waits ready for tracking with APRS or RDF

86. Amateur Radio at Stratofox Photo: BioLaunch B07B in May 2007 Airborne tracker Craig Anderson N6YXK with his Amateur Radio radio gear in the Cessna 182 chase plane before the flight Photo by chase pilot James Mack KI6LQA

87. Amateur Radio at Stratofox Photo: laptop screenshot on chase plane for BioLaunch B07B in May 2007 Green line shows the chase plane enroute to the Lodi Airport after photographing the balloon launch at Mt Hamilton Red line shows the balloon climbing through 40,000' Pilot: James Mack KI6LQA Tracker: Craig Anderson N6YXK

88. Amateur Radio at Stratofox Photo: on the hunt for Stanford BioLaunch B07C near Tracy, CA in June 2007 Marcin Hirny N9ZTZ drives Andy Selle KI6JQU tracks APRS Heather Stern KG6ZYC navigates

89. Training and Recreation Photo: Sunset at Stratofox camp at “Upper High Dry” Lakebed in the Black Rock Desert in September 2008

91. It helps train new members about the area

92. It gives us a chance to explore areas related to upcoming events without pressure

93. We always maintain contact by Amateur Radio

94. Nearest cell coverage is 80 miles south

96. Stratofox 2 – Aug 2003 training for CSXT and Paragon space shots

97. Stratofox 3 – Sept 2006 exploring after busy years w/ space launches

98. Stratofox 4 – Aug 2007 exploration in the Black Rock Range

99. Stratofox 5 – Sept 2008 exploration in the Black Rock Range

100. Other research resulting from Stratofox exploration Photo: Stratofox member Bob Verish examines rocks in the Black Rock Range

102. If confirmed, 54 mile / 87 km diameter would be 2nd largest in US (after Chesapeake Bay)

103. Age unknown – many millions of years by amount of erosion

104. Discover Magazine mentioned the research in Dec 2008

105. Volunteering for Stratofox Stratofox camp sites may include bicycles, 4x4s and airplanes

107. We have to keep the group trustworthy because some of our partner organizations have considered each other competitors before and others probably will again

108. We have to be trusted by all parties

109. There is no room for spectators in the deep desert – everyone has to “carry their own weight” out there

110. Potential new members need to have a useful skill

112. This puts you on “invitee” status

113. Invitees can earn full membership by participating in an event

115. How well did you help the team achieve its goals?

116. How well did you get along with the team?

118. Navigation, GPS & maps

119. 4x4/off-roading

120. High-power rocketry cert

121. Private Pilot or better

122. Own an airplane

124. Search & Rescue

125. Emergency medical training (WFR, EMT)

126. Logistical planning

129. Stratofox's parent/umbrella corporation was granted 501(c)3 status in 2007, CA tax exemption in 2008

131. Some situations may arise where we can reimburse volunteers for expenses – but don't count on that

133. Talk mail list – public aerospace discussion

134. Announce-only mail list – if you only want announcements

135. The end Photo: Stratofox ground crew gives the shutdown signal to search plane pilot at AeroPac To100K in September 2005 Pilot: Ben Woodard KG6FNK Ground: Owen DeLong KB6MER Note: ground crew giving signals to pilots must be pilots too

136. Additional slides for Q&A (just in case)

138. 2x24 mile area in SE NV & SW UT

139. NASA canceled ground search in western states after 2 weeks

140. Apparent correlation between Matson estimate and Delamar NV eyewitness account of falling debris

141. Stratofox searches in 4/2004, 7/2005 & 9/2006

143. Dragoon IIB Sept 27, 2005 launch in 2 nd day's window payload separation in flight, booster impacted ¾ mile away

144. 2004-2005 Paragon space launch attempts

146. 3 attempts spanning 2005 and 2006

147. First stage (booster) always worked

148. Different failure every time for the 2nd stage

149. Currently in redesign

150. 2005-2006 AeroPac “To100K”

151. Stanford BioLaunch balloons Photo: Visual acquisition from the Tracy Airport of B07C climbing through 30,000' Shown left to right: Christina Mester AF6BW, Brad Douglas KB8UYR, Bryan Klofas KF6ZEO, Steve Rubin AE6CH, Marcin Hirny N9ZTZ

153. Stanford Aerospace Engineering students also fly satellite electronics to test in near vacuum

154. K12 student experiments on some flights

156. Landed on top of a tree

157. Successful same-day recovery enabled Stanford to present results to NASA promptly, which enabled further research funding

160. Landed on top of a tree again (Stanford's mascot is a tree)

161. Stratofox chase plane crew found payloads within 10 minutes of payload touchdown

162. BioLaunch B07B – May 2007

164. Landed in corn field right down the furrow

165. Stratofox chase plane crew found it within 15 minutes of payload touchdown

167. Ham Radio APRS telemetry received by air and ground crews

168. Plane crew “talked in” the ground crews to the site

170. Part of payload separated and landed in mountains

171. Remainder landed in San Joaquin Valley orchard

172. All day+evening search, both parts recovered

174. B07E flew to 95,000', landed SW of Los Banos

175. B07F aborted at 30,000' by Stanford landed near junction of I-5 and SR 165

176. Both recovered in time for lunch

177. Plane grounded in San Jose due to fog arrived 3 minutes after B07E recovery

179. 3 Stratofox teams started at the launch site

180. 3 started at the Madera Airport (north of Fresno)

181. Both balloons landed near Merced

182. Both recovered in time for lunch (again!)

183. B08A flew to 107,000'

184. B08B flew to 68,000' (as high as planned)

185. Stratofox at the Fossett search Photo: Sept 9, 2007 crew at the Minden NV Airport Bob Verish, Brad Douglas KB8UYR, Greg Retkowski KI4NQF, Ian Kluft KO6YQ and Bernhard Hailer AE6YN with Greg's plane at the Minden NV Airport on Sept 8, 2007. (Yes it's normal for a Long-EZ to park with the nose gear stowed.)

187. But we have search & rescue expertise for our own crews' safety and anyone we find who needs help

188. During Fossett search, Stratofox had numerous tips which we passed to CAP

189. In 4 different cases, we were in positions to help and members stepped up to the task

190. Amateur Radio used to track safety of our members

192. Sept 4 – CAP begins search

193. Sept 7-8 – Stratofox aerial search near Eureka NV

194. Sept 8-9 – Stratofox ground search Minden NV to Mono Lake CA

195. Sept 11 – Stratofox aerial search near Topaz CA

196. Sept 13 – ELT heard near Mammoth/Mono Lake

197. Sept 14 – Stratofox ground search at Mammoth

199. No way to know - Fossett, other aircraft, false alarm?

200. CAP too overwhelmed to help Eureka County

201. Sept 7-8: Stratofox member Greg Retkowski KI4NQF flew to Eureka to help with grid search

202. No planes in grid area - determined to be false alarm

203. Thunderstorm turbulence at time of report probably refracted sounds of US 50 traffic back to ground

205. Stratofox ground crew arrived in Minden Sept 7

206. Pilot Greg KI4NQF arrived from Eureka Sept 8

207. CAP withdrew offer for concern of collision risk

208. Asked us to search on ground only – we complied

209. Stratofox members heard from friend of Fossett that he was headed “south along 395”

210. binocular searches from Minden to Mono Lake

212. Brad Douglas KB8UYR

213. Bernhard Hailer AE6YN (*)

214. Ian Kluft KO6YQ

215. Greg Retkowski KI4NQF – pilot/plane owner

216. Bob Verish (*) (*) indicates participation in this event qualified for Stratofox membership

217. Sept 10, 2007: plane in sat photo Before After That's an airplane – and the right size found by Internet volunteer Drew Smith

218. Sept 11, 2007: aerial search GPS: 9/8 ground and 9/11 aerial Definitely no airplane there We determined the plane in the sat photo was in flight at the time

220. Ian Kluft KO6YQ - binoculars/photographer

221. Ben Woodard KG6FNK – pilot/plane owner

223. He was flying a Cessna 210 from Santa Monica to Reno west of the crest of the Sierras

224. ELT reported “25 mi west to south of Mono Lake”

225. He reported it to Air Traffic Control and to the Stratofox team

226. Stratofox forwarded report to Fossett family & CAP

228. Ground search by Ian Kluft KO6YQ monitored for ELT from Mono Lake to Mammoth Lakes

229. Deep-freeze nights left no hope of finding survivor

231. Ridge would have blocked ELT signal if operating

232. At nearest this was 8 miles from crash site

234. Odd circumstances with CAP overwhelmed by reports

235. When Stratofox had info, we always forwarded it

236. Normally we're not a search & rescue organization

237. The thought at the time was that Fossett might be waiting for a rescue

238. Now we know it was too late before searches started

239. Team members still feel proud of our efforts