Near Space

Please note that Parallax does not design UAV's and makes no such warranty of compliance by posting an application online. Customers are liable for their own applications and are responsible to self-educate. Anyone who sends a UAV into the air is responsible for reviewing applicable state, county and federal laws independently. Model aircraft need to be operated within line of sight and under the direct control of the operator according to current FAA regulations. UAV's and other airborne projects such as balloons introduce a variety of risks that should be understood by those involved. These devices may become hazards to aircrafts or power lines, etc.

About the Book:

Looking for an out-of-this world adventure? You’ll find it when you become one of the roughly 200 people across the United States who build, launch, chase, and recover the poor man’s satellite. Amateur Radio High Altitude Ballooning (ARHAB) allows the individual to design and fly functioning models of spacecraft into a space-like environment. The combination of microcontrollers, GPS receivers, amateur science, and digital radio makes ARHAB one of the newest and most unique hobbies.

Near Space Exploration with the BASIC Stamp explains all aspects of Amateur Radio High Altitude Ballooning. From assembling support equipment to recovering near spacecraft - detailed instructions, procedures, and parts lists are clearly laid out. The book’s emphasis is on keeping costs low and construction simple while maximizing the potential science and engineering returns from each near space mission.

The largest chapters of Near Space Exploration with the BASIC Stamp are on the science side, Amateur Near Space Exploration. Experiments range from cosmic rays to weather stations. Along with many flight-tested experiments, there’s also an extensive list of experiment ideas. Astounding amateur science and engineering is the result of sending experiments to an altitude of 100,000 feet.

The book’s procedures have been developed and tested by the author during his nine years of experience flying amateur near spacecraft. Download this book and in less than a year, photo lab technicians could be asking you if you’re an astronaut.

About the Author:

L. Paul Verhage graduated with a B.S. degree in Physics from California State University - Fresno. After spending 7-1/2 years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, he attended Kansas State University to earn a M.S. in Secondary Education. In 1994 he was introduced to the amazing world of Amateur Radio High Altitude Ballooning and the amateur near space exploration it made possible. Currently L. Paul Verhage teaches electronics to high school students at the Dehryl A. Dennis Professional Technical Center in Boise, Idaho.

The author also writes a bimonthly Near Space column in Nuts and Volts magazine. The column covers topics from near space to outer space. Projects described in Near Space are based on easily available parts and the BASIC Stamp is the microcontroller of choice. Along with learning to design projects and experiments, readers also learn to analyze the results of their experiments. Readers of Near Space gain the experience of the author’s 40 plus near space flights.

L. Paul Verhage’s hobbies are backpacking, traveling, astronomy, writing, robotics, and amateur near space exploration.

Chapters:
Chapter - 0: Designing your own Program of Near Space Exploration
Chapter - 1: Constructing the Near Space Capsule Airframe
Chapter - 2: Near Space Avionics, Part One
Chapter - 3: Near Space Avionics, Part Two
Chapter - 4: Near Space Avionics, Part Three
Chapter - 5: Wrap Up And Near Space Qualifying
Chapter - 6: Near Space Recovery Systems
Chapter - 7: Remote Imaging from Near Space
Chapter - 8: Near Space Experiments
Chapter - 9: Launch Support Equipment
Chapter - 10: Launch Procedures
Chapter - 11: Chase and Recovery
Chapter - 12: Weather and Flight Predictions
Chapter - 13: Where To Go From Here
Chapter - 14: Federal Aviation Regulation FAR 101

Nuts & Volts Articles: (Reprinted with permission of Nuts and Volts)
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article February 2004
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article March 2004
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article April 2004
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article May 2004
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article June 2004
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article July 2004
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article August 2004
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article September 2004
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article November 2004
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article January 2005
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article March 2005
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article May 2005
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article September 2005
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article November 2005
Nuts & Volts Near Space Article January 2006