Fight Computer and GPS

 

I purchased an Arduino Duemilanove mini processor to use as the main flight computer.

I also purchased a Motorola GPS module off of eBay.

I purchased a Canon Powershot A560 which can be hacked to snap a picture every 15 seconds (or any interval).

 
My 600 gram balloon has also arrived, although I may have bought it prematurely. A 600g balloon will only lift 250 grams or about 9 oz! That's not very much.

I may forgo the flight computer and use only the GPS tracker and camera on the first flight. The camera alone weighs 165 g. If I can get the tracker under 100 g I should barley make it.

Bakersfield Amateur Radio High Altitude Balloon project

or BARHAB-1

I've decided to attempt to launch a camera along with radio tracking equipment into the stratosphere in the hopes of bringing back images from 20 miles above the Central Valley. The mobile tracking station is already coming together nicely due to a lucky find of a almost brand new $200 radio scanner I picked up for $30. That along with some free software and I'm already receiving digital location data from local ham radio operators.
My next step is going to be designing the flight computer. It will be part of the payload along with a GPS, radio transmitter and possibly some other sensors, like temperature and pressure. For the flight computer, I'm looking at an Arduino mini processor.
I'm planning a launch in the early spring of 2011 if all goes well.