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Student Ballooning Course: Exploring Solar Efficiency at Altitude

The University of New Orleans offers a Student Ballooning Course that empowers students to design, build, and launch a scientific payload to 100,000 feet. This course covers four vital sections: Electronics, Programming, Ballooning, and Project Management. Key mission objectives include comparing thin-film and flat-panel solar cells' efficiency relative to altitude and assessing UV radiation levels. The hands-on experience allows students to develop technical skills in solar systems, sensors, programming, and more, while conducting significant scientific experiments that investigate solar efficiency and UV exposure.

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Student Ballooning Course: Exploring Solar Efficiency at Altitude

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  1. Aerospace Catalyst Experiences for Students Student Ballooning Course Mark Becnel Kris Jarvenpaa Stefan Sicinschi University of New Orleans May 21, 2009 LaACES

  2. Program Goals • An opportunity to design, build, and fly a payload to reach 100,000 ft • Course with 4 sections: • Electronics • Programming • Ballooning • Project Management

  3. Mission Objectives Our primary objective is to compare the efficiency of thin film and flat panel solar cells relative to altitude, hence increased Solar Radiance. The secondary objective is to compare the amount of UV radiation to altitude.

  4. Science Objectives Experiment 1, determine the relative efficiency of solar cells at higher altitudes. By using two different types of solar cells, arranged in comparable positions, we will calculate the relative efficiency throughout the flight.Experiment 2 is to document the levels of UV radiation compared to altitude. The design compares two comparable testing systems with a single filter. This design should allow us to plot UV radiation based on altitude.

  5. Technical Objectives The technical goals involved are remarkable. As a team, Team University of New Orleans will develop skills with solar systems, sensors, programming, analysis, and documentation. We are able to test insulation methods, calibrate instruments and recording devices, and exercise skills in circuitry.

  6. Altitude vs Temperature

  7. UV Film

  8. Upgrades Raise Recording Frequency to Document Oscillations or Inductance to eliminate oscillations

  9. Thank you • UNO Physics • Dr. C. Gregory Seab, Dept. Chair • Mr. Larry Blanchard, ACES Advisor • Faculty and Staff • ACES • All involved with the program and flight. • NASA, Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility

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