Kentucky Space Grant Consortium
The BIG BLUE projects would not be possible without Richard and Karen Hackney, Directors of the Kentucky Space Grant Consortium. Richard attended a balloon workshop in Colorado in 2002 which led to the first (and second) successful Workforce Development Grant proposal that he coordinated and submitted. But their participation is much more than monetary support. Richard and Karen have contagious enthusiasm for BIG BLUE. Richard was a valuable participant as a reviewer for the 2003 internal CDR. Karen provided an inspirational message for success from Gene Kranz, Flight Director of Apollo 13, "To the BIG BLUE Team -- Aim High!" At the BBI launch, Richard and Karen helped with communications and the chase. Many of the best images capturing the launch, chase and recovery are theirs. Their enthusiastic support inspired the BIG BLUE students. Thanks Richard and Karen!
:: KSGC: Richard and Karen Hackney Gallery
ILC Dover, Inc.
Engineers at ILC Dover, Inc. are key partners in developing the inflatable- rigidizable wings for BIG BLUE. From the original concept of a wing assembled
from a series of inflatable-rigidizable tubes of assorted sizes; through the
decision to try a different approach incorporating UV curable resin in a more- integrated ILC inflatable wing design; through airfoil analysis, wind-tunnel
testing and more analysis to finalize the cross section, trailing edge details
and composite layup; to the final wings, UK students worked with the advice and
input of ILC engineers..
ILC hosted visits of UK BBI students and advisors for a kick-off meeting on
October 21, 2002 and for a critical design review on March 7, 2003. The
experience of working with Dave Cadogan, Tim Smith, Steve Scarborough and Ryan
Lee, along with others at ILC, was as important to the success of BIG BLUE I as
ILC's contributions to the wing design. These exceptional engineers
enthusiastically worked with UK BIG BLUE I team members as peers in this unique
endeavor. They provided expertise, advice and encouragement for all aspects of
the project from management to testing. Their intense professional approach for
tackling technical challenges served as a model for challenges faced throughout
the program.
BBI led to BBII and more challenges. After Fall 2003 flight testing showed the
inflatable-rigidizable wings were excellent flyers, students presented a BBI
Project Summary at ILC in November 2003. ILC also hosted the BBII critical
design review in February 2004. Twelve BBII students representing 20 teams
traveled to Delaware and presented the BBII design to ILC engineers. Advice and
questions from Chuck Sandy and Jim Stein (engineers for the Mars lander
airbags), from Steve Scarborough, Frank Uhelsky and Matt Mackusick (engineers
for ILCs inflatable wings), from Dave Cadogan (Manager of Research and
Development) and from Ralph Weis (Director of Engineering) were discussed and
incorporated in the current BBII design. What an experience!
:: ILC Dover Image Gallery
Edge of Space Science (EOSS)
EOSS is a unique organization of amateur radio and high-altitude ballooning enthusiasts who like nothing better on a Saturday morning than to provide the launch and recovery services for experiments designed for the edge of space. What a hobby!
BIG BLUE I and II are indebted to Mike Manes, EOSS President, and the entire EOSS organization for their advice, ideas and entusiastic support. In November 2002, Dr. William Smith, Justin Kearns and Aaron Welch went to Ft. Collins, CO to observe a balloon launch first hand. They came back talking about the equipment (antennas and radios and lots more), the "mission control" set-up in Gene Fatton's sunroom (for communication and tracking), and the people of EOSS. This visit taught us a lot about how to design our systems for a successful flight. After that, dozens of phone calls and emails kept us on track. Then there was the amazing launch of BBI on May 3, 2003. Another visit by William Smith and David Jackson on February 10, 2004 included a presentation of BBI results. For BBII, it was more calls and more amazing help and more fun. The excitement of the May 1, 2003 launch and chase (including the decision to launch Saturday) was more thrilling than any amusement park ride. Thanks EOSS!
:: EOSS Image Gallery
SOFASCO
The BIG BLUE team members thank SOFASCO for their generous donation of the fans needed to build the museum wind tunnel display. SOFASCO specializes in manufacturing ball bearing and sleeve AC/DC axial fans, blowers, and chip coolers for different environments. For information on SOFASCO, see
sofasco.com.
