Can I track a weather balloon?

Satellite Tracker – This is by far the best option for tracking your weather balloon payload. Satellite trackers are designed to be both rugged and reliable. Unlike cellphone and APRS trackers, satellite trackers rely on a network of satellites in orbit to receive their position signal.

How do you track high-altitude balloons?

High-altitude balloons (HABs) are typically tracked via Global Positioning System (GPS) data sent via real-time radio-based communication systems such as the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS).

Where would you find a weather balloon?

Weather balloons are launched from the upper air building which is located in a valley adjacent to the forecast office (pictured, top row left). They are filled with helium inside of the small building (pictured, top row center and right), then taken outside to launch (pictured, bottom row center).

How are radiosondes recovered?

The camera and radiosonde, with a GPS device attached, then floated back to Earth on a plastic parachute and was recovered. Overall, only about 20\% of radiosondes that drop back to Earth are ever recovered, the National Weather Service said.

How do weather balloons communicate?

Amateur radio is often used with packet radio to communicate with 1200 baud, using a system called Automatic Packet Reporting System back to the ground station. Smaller packages called micro or pico trackers are also built and run under smaller balloons.

Are radiosondes still used?

Radiosondes provide a primary source of upper-air data and will remain so into the foreseeable future.

What is a radiosonde instrument?

The radiosonde is a small instrument package that is suspended below balloon filled with either hydrogen or helium. As the radiosonde is carried aloft it measures pressure, temperature, and relative humidity.

Do weather balloons show up on radar?

To obtain wind data, they can be tracked by radar, radio direction finding, or navigation systems (such as the satellite-based Global Positioning System, GPS). Weather balloons that do not carry an instrument pack are used to determine upper-level winds and the height of cloud layers.

Are weather balloons recoverable?

Overall, only about 20\% of radiosondes that drop back to Earth are ever recovered, the National Weather Service said. The report about the balloon appeared in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

What is the best way to track a weather balloon?

When it comes to tracking a weather balloon, the three most common options are a satellite tracker, an APRS tracker, or a cell phone. Each option has its benefits and limitations.

Which GPS messaging system is best for weather balloons?

The most popular GPS Messaging System used for weather balloon flights is the Spot 3 Satellite Messenger. This system will work anywhere in the world and just needs a clear view of the sky, but there are some downsides and things to consider. First, the system will only operate to approximately 60,000 ft (18,300 m) in altitude.

What happens to the GPS when a balloon bursts?

Once the balloon bursts and the payload descends below the GPS lockout altitude, tracking will resume. Even though satellite trackers have a few limitations, (antenna must be pointed at the sky, low update rate, no specialized GPS receiver) no payload should fly without one.

Is the kerberossdr tracking the bearing of the balloon?

Having the actual GPS location from the RS41 data allows us to compare and confirm that the KerberosSDR is indeed tracking the bearing of the balloon. In this test we used the excellent 4-element dipole array made by Arrow Antennas.