[aprssig] K6RPT-11 Strato-Floater Balloon Update - Coast-to-Coast and Still Going!

[Stephen H. Smith]

The K6RPT APRS-equipped high-altitude balloon left the U.S. mainland,  headed 
out over the Atlantic about 0330 UTC Tuesday after a coast-to-coast crossing of 
the US from the San Jose, California launch site.

Radio contact was lost about 400 miles off the New Jersey coast. At that point 
it was still transmitting and reporting normal battery voltage, holding 
altitude around 107,000 ft, and headed toward the Straights of Gibraltar at 
about 150 MPH (240 KM/h).

It may yet be heard in Europe Tuesday afternoon or evening UTC  --IF--  the 
balloon's latex envelope survives another day of UV exposure, and the 
transmitter's battery lasts that long.    Line of sight radio range at 100,000 
feet is approx 400-450 miles (640-720 KM).

Live Track  UIview/Precision Mapping 9 display with last-heard location at:

<http://wa8lmf.net/livetrack>

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Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
Skype:        WA8LMF
Home Page:          http://wa8lmf.net

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