Tracker Hardware
- Core system: Raspberry Pi Pico with configurable WSPR messages.
- Firmware controls transmit band and slot assignments for each mission profile.
- Hardware state is validated during preflight checkout and launch rehearsal.
About the Hardware
Flight electronics and envelope system for stratospheric endurance.
The vehicle stack is built around low-mass telemetry, fragile solar power surfaces, and a flight envelope process tuned for reliability before launch day.
Navigation and Power
- Ublox GPS receiver provides positional and timing data for telemetry packets.
- Power architecture uses fragile bare solar cells with lightweight interconnect handling.
- Power continuity is tracked through cold weather and low-sun-angle conditions.
Antenna System
- The physical tether is used as half of the antenna system.
- Trade studies and VNA measurements guide tuning across expected flight conditions.
- Antenna routing is coordinated with structure and insulation to reduce detuning risk.
Balloon Envelope
- Conditioned Chinese Mylar balloon envelope is used for flight readiness.
- Envelope is pressurized with humid air to stretch material and check for leaks.
- Leak test outcomes inform final go/no-go decision before filling and launch.
Lifting Gas Transition
- Program is migrating from a low-lift Helium/Air mixture to pure Hydrogen.
- Transition is managed with additional safety procedures and operations review.
- Flight dynamics assumptions are updated for higher-lift profiles.
Hardware Visuals
Current campaign imagery is shown below while the team continues publishing close-up payload, solar, and antenna build photography.
