1. INSGC: Near-Space Inspiring Students 02/29/08 StratoStar Systems LLC Jason Krueger, President 236 West Reade Ave Upland, IN 46989 765.382.0451

2. Overview Taylor University H-A Balloon Program StratoStar Systems 2007 HALO Project 2008 HALO II Project NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops

3. Taylor University H-A Balloon Program Testing Satellite Systems –Taylor University needed to test it’s CubeSat sub-systems –Equipment for lab testing was not available –Dr. Hank Voss & Jeff Dailey decided to launch the CubSat into Near-Space –Dr. Voss & Jeff developed 900 Mhz telemetry system

4. Taylor University H-A Balloon Program First Launch February 2003

5. Taylor University H-A Balloon Program First Launch February 2003 –Partially funded by INSGC first Crosscutting Research Grant INSGC has funded the balloon program each year from 2003-2007 (Hopefully 2008?)

6. Taylor University H-A Balloon Program Students are the focus –Build Scientific & Engineering payloads –Track & Recovery payloads –Coordinating logistics –Working in teams –Managing budgets and schedules –Creative problem solving

7. Taylor University H-A Balloon Program

8. Balloon Launches for Non-Science Majors –Originally Physics and Engineering –Started launching with Astronomy students and Elementary Education students –Science is taken outside the classroom, lab and atmosphere –Makes Science “Real”

9. Taylor University H-A Balloon Program Student Quote: –I definitely think the balloon lab should be included in Astronomy...because it's a tangible way to see that this is really still a science, not an outdated sub-genre of physics in which you memorize the planets in our solar system.

10. Taylor University H-A Balloon Program Taylor Balloon Program History –100% recovery rate –72 launches in 5 years –Major contributor to growth of Physics & Engineering Department

11. Taylor University H-A Balloon Program INSGC Funding Multiplied –INSGC $ to Taylor is in $10,000s –Outside follow-on funding from INSGC funded projects is $400,000+ –All student focused grants to build the STEM Workforce –$250K for NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops

12. StratoStar Systems Who are we? –Company has been in business for 2 years –Slogan “Gateway to Near-Space” –StratoStar has over 70 years combined R&D experience –100% payload retrieval to date –Spun out of INSGC funded balloon program

13. StratoStar Systems StratoSat Complete Flight Package StratoStar’s main product Wireless Payload Pods Battery Charger Command Pod Mobile Tracking Unit Parachute High-Altitude Balloon

14. StratoStar Systems What do we do? –Help people conducting launches and operate in near-space --“Gate-way to Near-Space” –Sell equipment to conduct launches –Provide training –Provide launch services

15. StratoStar Systems This will make it too easy for the Students –We supply the command unit and experiment pods – you do the rest –Taken away the things which discourage students and Institutions (Lost equipment & Data) –Students focus on Science and other all areas of engineering (Not just EE) –Success keeps students coming back for more!

16. StratoStar Systems Don’t let your boat sink!

17. StratoStar Systems The future student project!

18. StratoStar Systems Who are your customers? –Higher Education – Taylor University, Cedarville University, DePauw University, University of Akron, University of Minnesota and more. –Industry & Government Agencies – SAIC, NOAA, Air Force, Navy and more

19. StratoStar Systems StratoStar’s New Altitude Control System –Up to 12 hours flight time –Uses normal Latex balloons –Flights without StratoStar’s altitude control system are about 2-3 hours –Opens the door to new scientific opportunities

20. StratoStar Systems Different ways to Near-Space 1.StratoStar launches your payloads 2.StratoStar conducts a high-altitude balloon launch with you at your institution 3.Purchase equipment and receive training to conduct your own launches

21. StratoStar Systems Visit our Website at: www.StratoStar.net

22. 2007 HALO Project High-Altitude Launch Opportunity (HALO) Project Funded by: INSGC, StratoStar & Taylor University

23. 2007 HALO Project Purpose Give students in the Midwest a chance to launch payloads on a high-altitude balloon

24. 2007 HALO Project Purpose Test StratoStar’s cutting edge constellation mesh network (HALO Network)

25. 2007 HALO Project The HALO Students Students at each institution recruited a team Teams built their own payloads

26. 2007 HALO Project The HALO Students Participated in conference calls with all other teams in the Midwest Handled all operations related to launching a high-altitude balloon

27. 2007 HALO Project HALO POD –Each institution received one HALO Pod –Each Pod Contained: –APRS Transmitter, GPS, Temp. Sensor, Pres. Sensor, Humidity Sensor, Geiger Counter and StratoStar’s Mesh Networking Radio. Each Institution added their own payloads for the launch

28. 2007 HALO Project Taylor University: Mission Control

29. 2007 HALO Project DePauw University: Greencastle, IN –All images taken from the same camera

30. 2007 HALO Project Cedarville University: Centerville, OH

31. 2007 HALO Project University of Minnesota: Minneapolis, MN

32. 2007 HALO Project

34. HALO Coverage Area

35. 2007 HALO Project Successful Project Summary –5 of 8 balloons connected to the create the mesh network constellation. –Temperature, Pressure, Humidity, and Geiger Counter data was sent through constellation –All payloads were recovered –Furthest link was over 270 miles

36. 2007 HALO Project Project Summary (People involved) –70 Students actively involved –110 People attend the launches –1000’s Read the News articles on the HALO project –Each Institution received media coverage of some form –More to come – Academic Publications

37. 2008 HALO II Project

38. HALO II Details –Sept. – Oct. 2008 –20 Institutions –No balloon experience needed –Looking for people to participate –Looking for Science experiments to fly Contact Jason Krueger if you are interested – jkrueger@StratoStar.net

39. NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Integrate High-Altitude balloon launches into the classroom and curricula of undergraduate science and engineering courses around the country. Purpose

40. NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Training and equipping undergraduate professors / instructors of all areas (not just Electrical Engineering and Aerospace) to implement balloon launches in a course which they are teaching. Focus

41. NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Science and engineering experiments for undergraduate courses Not on building an entire high-altitude balloon system. Focus

42. NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Training on all aspects of high-altitude ballooning Design and build science experiment Activities

43. NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Conduct a night launch of a high-altitude balloon Activities

44. NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Track and recover the your payloads Analyze data from your experiment Network with other professors who have successfully implemented ballooning into the classroom Activities

45. NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops One Free balloon launch at your University with equipment funded by NSF Follow-up support from Taylor University on implementation of ballooning in your curriculum. Post Workshop Benefits

46. NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops No cost to attend (limit 5 per institution) –(travel & lodging not included) Each institution receives $200 stipend Short two page application 2 day workshop Offered Twice May 21-22 or Aug. 4-5 2008 Registration Details

47. NSF High-Altitude Balloon Workshops Conference Website –www.taylor.edu/cri/balloon.www.taylor.edu/cri/balloon Open for Registration Registration Details

48. StratoStar Systems 236 West Reade Ave Upland, IN POC: Jason Krueger 765-382-0451 jkrueger@StratoStar.net www.StratoStar.net