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Three MIT students grabbed pics from space using basic off-the-shelf parts and minimal hacking -
On Sept. 2, 2009, we launched a digital camera into near-space to take photographs of the earth from high up above. (see "Flight")They used a cooler + chemical hand-warming packets to keep the electronics operating at low temperatures. Head over to 1337arts for the flight pics & details. [via Slashdot]
Several groups have accomplished similar feats (see "Other Launches"), but as far we know, we are the first group ever to:
(1) Complete such a launch on a budget of $150 total. All of our supplies (including camera, GPS tracking, weather balloon, and helium) were purchased for less than a grand total of $150.
(2) Create a launch vehicle without the use of any electronic hacking. We used off-the-shelf items exclusively (i.e., no electronic chips or soldering) to create our launch vehicle
What is the name of that Duracell AA charger? I've been looking for one.
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It's called a mintyboost.
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They used a cellular telephone to provide realtime tracking.
FCC regulation 22.295 prohibits airborne use of cellular telephones. 22.295 is fully independent of the FAA's regulations regarding interference. (i.e. the ban on cell phones in passenger planes is covered by not just one but two regulations, one FAA and one FCC.)
FCC 22.295 explicitly mentions balloons as a form of airborne use of a cellular telephone, which the regulation prohibits.
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And yet, somehow, the sun still rises in the morning...
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FCC part 22 covers traditional, analog cellular phones. FCC part 23 covers PCS phones and has no similar restriction as regulation 22.295. Given that most major carriers stopped using their analog signals a while back I doubt there were any violations.
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BAH! To hell with the FCC and the FAA.
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