(meteorobs) Repost- Clear evidence forMeteoroidejecta/outgassing.

[Swift, Wesley R. (MSFC-EV44)[Raytheon - Jacobs]]

I see two advantages and several disadvantages.  Probably more of each.

1)  Above the clouds.  We haven't seen the sky in weeks!
2)  UV images/ spectra become possible.

a)  Cost.
b)  Nadir not accessible:  (Balloon is obstruction)
c)  Short mission life compared to usual all sky cameras. (campaign mode)

Wes

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org [mailto:meteorobs-bounces at meteorobs.org] On Behalf Of Chris Peterson
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 9:11 PM
To: Global Meteor Observing Forum
Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Repost- Clear evidence forMeteoroidejecta/outgassing.

It's unclear to me how getting a little closer to a meteor really helps. If 
you want to understand train dynamics, you need aperture and fast exposures, 
neither of which are practical on an inexpensive balloon. Yes, you might get 
some daytime images that would be difficult from the ground, but you're 
still very far from the meteors. How does getting 30% closer improve things 
much?

What would be more helpful would be a better understanding of mesospheric 
winds (ground based radar data) and much higher resolution, high speed 
meteor images- which new ground-based equipment is starting to provide.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thomas Dorman" <drygulch_99 at yahoo.com>
To: "Global Meteor Observing Forum" <meteorobs at meteorobs.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 7:22 PM
Subject: Re: (meteorobs) Repost- Clear evidence for 
Meteoroidejecta/outgassing.


Dave and Malcolm
For tracking a cell phone with GPS tracking could be used to track down the 
payload.Second a standard weather balloon would not work for a long duration 
flight.A zero pressure balloon for a long duration flight would be needed.I 
think with a little experimenting this could be worked out.The other problem 
I see is powering the camera or video camera system and recording devices 
and also other instruments. I am looking around to see what kind of light 
weight batteries are available.
The MIT students used a beer cooler but weight maybe saved using lighter 
material used for a supporting structure for the instruments and cameras 
such as carbon fiber.
I simply do not have the funds to get such a project off the ground but 
their maybe others in a position to do so.Also several people maybe able to 
pool their resources to get something going.I know the talent exist with 
this group only to find those in the group that have the will and the 
vision.I really like to see some meteor spectral data come from such an 
endeavor.As I said just an idea to get at the heart of the issues discussed 
in this thread.
Thomas


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