Just back from a workshop at the College of Astronautics, Nanjing, preparing the payload for our weather balloon experiment.

Determinating the weight of all components:

A lot of soldering work:

Dr. Lampe measuring the amplifiers and antennas:

Lambda 1/4 antenna, motherboard, GPS, 2 W amplifier placed in a customized foam box. We will have a continuous downlink of 3 cameras as well as pressure, temperature and GPS data. One camera will be pointed vertically upwards (balloon explosion), one camera vertically downwards, one camera horizonally. Minimum transmitting range 40 km. Maximum transmitting range 300 km (even enough for a satellite).

Group portrait with ladies. Our tardigrade researchers Susan and Kristin proudly presenting the 'white box':

Further steps: Programming, low temperature chamber, manufacturing of the sensor and battery (Li-Po 11.1 V/5000 mAh) monitoring board, parachute and transmission test.

Estimated launch: End of August 2010.

Update August 2, 2010:

Low temperature test successful. Here are the results:

TBC