Dukes in space!
JMU team test launches Hi-SAT One, its high-altitude balloon
News
SUMMARY: The team of past and present JMU students, faculty advisers and local ham radio operators sent a high-altitude balloon into near space as a first test toward proof of concept.
Nov. 7, 2021 (VINTON, Va.) — The JMU DukeSAT team took its first steps toward space on Sunday with the launch of a high-altitude balloon test. “Hi-SAT One” lifted off from William Byrd High School in Vinton, Virginia at 12:02 p.m., landing approximately three hours later near Gladstone, Virginia after reaching an altitude of over 60,000 feet.
The goal of the MESHSat project is to develop and test a mesh network (wireless internet) in space utilizing small satellites. This flight was the first step in proving the team’s ability to launch, track, document and recover a payload. The next stage will involve three to five serially launched balloons with networking hardware.
The team includes past and present JMU students; faculty members Jonathan Spindel, Ph.D. and Bryan Cage, Ph.D; and members of Staunton and Harrisonburg ham radio operator clubs.
This project was made possible with support from Madison Trust, a University Advancement program that funds faculty and staff innovations through contributions from philanthropic investors. The next Madison Trust funding event takes place on March 11, 2022.
 |
Photos courtesy of the JMU DukeSAT team
Madison Trust is an initiative of University Advancement managed by the office of Corporate & Foundation Relations in collaboration with colleagues across the JMU campus.
