We assembled a mock up balloon launch vehicle. It’s could actually fly, it just made from rather beat up parts from previous missions. We then mounted the controller and a backup tracking system on it in the exact positions they were on Away 35. we can now start chasing the GPS antenna issue we saw on Away 35.
We also built up a shop ground station. A lot of old gear was pressed once more into service. The tricky part was building the cables to connect it to the newer stuff. The manuals were of dubious help. When the old manuals were written the new stuff (and their protocols) didn’t exist. The writers of the new manuals never thought anyone would be hooking their pretty new boxes to the klugie ancient things we have laying around the shop.
We made a great airship motor controllers tester unit that flew on Away 35. It had a little motor and prop, and was packed full of sensors. It has the same plugs and connector as the big airship motor systems. In flight the controller doesn’t know the difference between it and a 2hp motor driving a 2 meter blade. It worked great on the Away 35 mission, however it was squished flat on landing. It took a team member a full day, but it’s now all healed.
Wanted to mention this on the off chance that it might be helpful even though I know nearly nothing compared to you. I can’t vouch for the following but according to some the civilian GPS receivers have a combination of two limitations specific to your use where it shuts down somewhere above 18 km if it travels faster (or possibly slower?) than some limit (I don’t remember what it was). There’s supposed to be ways to get around it but I have no idea if it’s true and/or practical for you to do so or if this is even part of the problem you’re facing.
Both GPSs are without the altitude limitations. One of them is a veteran of 12 runs to over 100,000 feet. They both failed just over 20,000 feet and came back at just over 60,000 feet. They recovered when the temperature was at a minimum. It’s pretty baffling.
JP
Almost sounds as if low pressure/density caused some part of them or what they’re dependent upon to overheat until the temperature dropped far enough.
Ok I’ll stop my amateur speculation right now before it gets completely out of hand ^_^
Godspeed and best wishes to all of you.