I've been involved in a little project called Le Grand Saut over the weekend. http://www.legrandsaut.org
It is an attempt to ride a helium balloon to the edge of space, and skydive back to earth. In addition to all the scientific research information gathered, it would also set 4 world records, highest manned balloon flight, longest duration freefall, fastest speed during freefall, and highest freefall. Mark Caviezel NG0X built and delivered an 8 million cubic foot balloon, and also brought along an excellent group of balloon pilots as his launch crew, along with his own meteorologist Mark Conner N9XTN. This excellent team came through and delivered for the project. They were in mid fill within 1/2 an hour or so of launch when the word came to abort from the payload crew. Michel Fournier's parachute suffered a malfunction calling an end to the launch attempt. I was part of the chase and recovery crew, along with Barry VE6SBS, Garrett VE6RKY, Bob VE6ROZ, Barry VA6DX, Dave VA6RA, Curtis VE6AEW and Jason (soon to be licensed), who gathered to ensure that the medical and rescue crews would be on site when Michel returned to earth. Our secondary task being the tracking and recovery of the payload, so that the team could recover all the recorded video and data, along with tracking the 1 ton balloon for clean up. We also looked after launching an APRS windsonde to gather upper wind data just hours before the main launch. http://aprs.fi/ve6atv-13 What an amazing experience... in the last 24 hours, we've had Scott N1VG and Jason KE4NYV jump to the plate for us, rewriting, compiling, and then emailing us new firmware for the brand new RTrak HAB payload, adding in another telemetry sensor, Lynn KE4ERJ create and release a new development version of APRSISCE/32 to correct a minor telemetry bug in his client, and Hessu OH7LZB adding a new kmz download capability to aprs.fi (with a nearly immediate response to a bug report, to fix a missing altitude parameter). The dedication of these individuals to their "hobby" is outstanding! There is no way that we could have had better support. The "commercial world" doesn't respond like this... it can take weeks or months to get responses and updates to issues like these. All I can say is WOW! Thank you gentlemen for tireless and unrewarded support. You are all a shining example of why I am proud to tell people that I am an amateur radio operator. For the love of radio! James VE6SRV
