Flight chain

Payload

The payload is made with foam, then protected with flashy orange tape for maximum visibility (in the air, and on the ground).

A label explaining it is harmless, with contacts details, is outside and inside the box.

The payload contains:

• Raspberry Pi Model A
  • Some unused connectors have been removed (RCA..)
  • Running Raspbian
  • MicroSD 8GB
  • SD to microSD adapter
    to limit the risk of the regular SD to be moved away of the slot.
  • Additional capacitor (more details provided in a future post)
  • default 3.3V regulator (could be improved for a future flight)
• USB Hub
• 2 x Prolific PL2303 USB toSerial for Radio and GPS.
• Raspberry onboard serial interface on GPIOs used for administrative tasks.
• GPS UBLOX MAX-7Q
  • Can go over the 18 Km CoCom limit
  • Commands sent to enable the “Flight mode”
• Radio Radiometrix NTX2 434.650 MHz
• Homemade quater wave ground plane antenna
• 3G USB Key Huawei K3565 used to send coordinates by SMS on the ground
• Relay to control power of 3G/SMS USB Key (powered only after burst and under 2000m)
• Sensors
  • Internal temperature: DS18B20
  • External temperature: DS18B20
  • Pressure/temperature: BMP085
• Raspberry PI Camera - 5MP
• Canon A590IS - 8MP
• Battery Romoss 5V / 5200 mAh

Cord

• Braided Nylon Cord 1mm Required by French Civil Aviation Authority / ICAO - Separation force limit 230 N

Parachute

• Spherachute 30in

Balloon

• 1200g Hwoyee