Physics students continue near-space research
On October 7, 2010, students helped “launch” near-space research at Trevecca Nazarene University by successfully flying a helium balloon into the stratosphere, carrying data-collection and tracking systems developed at Trevecca. In the fall of 2009, Trevecca’s inaugural balloon flight, carrying the first Trevecca student experiments into the stratosphere, used equipment on loan from Taylor University. Since then, Trevecca physics professors Fred Cawthorne and Matthew Huddleston, with the assistance of physics students, have designed and built their own system for tracking high-altitude balloons and communicating with them in flight. This system was successfully flight tested in April 2010 and again in June 2010, with the results being presented at a summer Academic High Altitude Conference in Upland, Indiana. The purpose of the October 7 launch was to train students to execute successfully a high-altitude balloon flight by having them assemble the balloon Trevecca students assist in the launch of another high-altitude science payload, perform tests of the flight equipment, project. launch the balloon, actively track the balloon during its flight, and eventually recover the balloon payload. It was a temperature, and other beautiful sunny day, and the launch proceeded perfectly. The balloon parameters. For the first time, the reached an altitude of more than 30 kilometers (almost 20 miles), balloon flight was also tracked floating above 99% of the earth’s atmosphere. At its peak altitude the from campus by means of a highballoon was approximately 30 feet in diameter, at which point it burst gain directional antenna affixed and descended by parachute into a rural area southwest of Murfreesboro, to the observatory dome on the Tennessee. roof of the Greathouse Science Building. Huddleston notes that During the entire flight, data was streamed live via high-frequency more launches are planned for the radio transmissions to a “chase van” where students were continuously future. tracking the balloon’s position and monitoring atmospheric pressure,
WINTER 2010-11 • TREVECCAN
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