Long-range Universal Mission Administrator (LUMA)
Long-range Universal Mission Administrator (LUMA)
Embedded Files
LUMA serves to centralize and maintain command and control capabilities within the BalloonSat program to allow for custom balloon flight profiles.
To accomplish this, the LUMA system consists of modules that can be assembled into a payload. These include modules for venting helium from the balloon envelope, manual or automatic flight termination, long range communications, and more! These capabilities allows for rideshare payloads to exert fine grained control over their flight path and automatic pathing for targeted recovery.
Modules and Capabilities
LUMA Core
LUMA Core
LUMA Core serves as the brains of the payload, coordinating commands to and from other modules, tracking and updating the planned flightpath, and communicating with rideshare payloads.
Vent/DROP
Vent/DROP
Vent/DROP is the central altitude control module for the LUMA system. It allows for controlled venting of helium from the balloon envelope for controlled descent, as well as automatic flight termination.
Long Range Comms
Long Range Comms
Using a custom APRS-inspired radio implementation, the Long Range Comms module allows for the LUMA system to communicate with the ground station to relay flight status or update mission paths.
Leadership:
Planned Development
The LUMA System is designed to be highly extensible and modifiable, with numerous other modules planned for later development:
Ballast - By venting Isopropyl alcohol with an onboard pump the module can decrease the weight of the LUMA payload, allowing it to stabilize and rise after having vented helium.
Range Extension - This module contains extra batteries for long duration flights.
Satellite Communications - Additional communication capabilities allow for backup communications or missions to further ranges than radio can allow.
PULLSTAR - While the conventional LUMA system allows for targeted recovery, PULLSTAR features propellers that allow for finer grained control of the recovery location, similar to a blimp.
Funding
Funding for the LUMA project is generously provided by Bill Brown (WB8ELK), a long time ham-radio and high-altitude ballooning enthusiast. Thank you!
Bill Brown (WB8ELK) holding a pico-balloon
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