MIT Students take pic of Earth's curvature on 150$ budget.

[dmora]

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/...-money-budget?

[High_Boost]

wow that is pretty incredible

[SpeedRacerSlots]

Yeah, I saw that and looked at their site too.
I still cant see how they think they didnt violate FAA guidelines tho.

[Crashoran]

"Many people have commented on the legality of the balloon launch with respect to FAA regulations. FAA regulations only apply to balloons with payloads over four pounds."

That's pretty amazing. I want to try this...

[C!LLY]

I'm sending this to my husband and want to try it out as well when he gets home. Sounds like it would be a ton of fun!

He knows where the good spots would be in this area since he is in aviation.

[Digigeek]

All's good and well until the thing lands on someone's head.

[srwatters]

Bravo for American DIY engineering!

[Cajungaltx]

That's pretty cool...

[dmora]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Bravo for American DIY engineering!

They arent the first ;)

Balloon photography has been around since the 18th/19th century iirc.
But doing it the cheapest is still pretty cool.

[SpeedRacerSlots]

They are talking about FAA Rules dated NOVEMBER 26, 2001.
http://www.eoss.org/pubs/far_annotated.htm

I understand the 4 pound payload thing.

The parts that I am looking at are:
* this sucker has to fall, uncontrollably from 93K feet
* i doubt they followed the notifications or markings requirements.
* what about controlled airspace...?


FAA Current Rules Set Part 101, Sub D

§ 101.33 Operating limitations.
(e) In such a manner that impact of the balloon, or part thereof including its payload, with the surface creates a hazard to persons or property not associated with the operation.
[Doc. No. 1457, 29 FR 47, Jan. 3, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 101–5, 56 FR 65662, Dec. 17, 1991]


§ 101.35 Equipment and marking requirements.(a) No person may operate an unmanned free balloon unless—

(1) It is equipped with at least two payload cut-down systems or devices that operate independently of each other;

(2) At least two methods, systems, devices, or combinations thereof, that function independently of each other, are employed for terminating the flight of the balloon envelope; and

(3) The balloon envelope is equipped with a radar reflective device(s) or material that will present an echo to surface radar operating in the 200 MHz to 2700 MHz frequency range.

§ 101.37 Notice requirements.
or
§ 101.39 Balloon position reports.

[Crashoran]

Meh. You're probably more likely to win the lottery than have the thing fall and hit you on the head. :)

[jammer]

MIT students don't care too much about rules or guidelines... I went there... You wouldn't believe some of the things they do and get away with.

[C!LLY]

Originally Posted by jammer

MIT students don't care too much about rules or guidelines... I went there... You wouldn't believe some of the things they do and get away with.

which party did you go there for?

jk



I heard they're supposed to be releasing a diy list of how they pulled this off.

[Digigeek]

Originally Posted by Crashoran

Meh. You're probably more likely to win the lottery than have the thing fall and hit you on the head. :)

Maybe true if you have one person in a 50 square mile area, but the odds of hitting someone increase dramatically the more people you have in the landing area.

It's kind of like shooting a gun in the air. The odds of hit hitting me may be slim, but I would hate to be the one who it does hit when it falls.

[kamari]

I can see it now: Mass photographer balloon-launching day.

Maybe TPFers can set a record for most FAA-legal launches at one time