Sprite 2002 Pictures From Brazil

A view of Cachoeira Paulista from INPE.







Click here for a summary of the Sprite 2002 Experiment

Update Dec. 11, 2002
We are still waiting for thunderstorm activity to return to launch payload 2. Things don't look good as a cold front has moved in bringing rain, low temps., and no thunderstorms.  We have only about one week left in our window for Dec. so we can only hope that conditions will improve soon.  The good news is that flight 1 went directly over a thunderstorm making excellent measurements of electromagnetic fields. So we have good data but no simultaneous sprite confirmation. Here are some prelaunch pictures, I have no pictures of the launch in digital form yet since it was only videotaped.


       Just prior to the launch of Sprite Flight 1 on Dec 6.  Jeremy Thomas confirms that telemetry is working
 with Mike McCarthy over the radio while Osmar Pinto and Marcelo Sabba discuss the launch.  The

                                                                 balloon and flight train can be seen in the background just before inflation.
 
 


The flight train with the payload in the background just prior to launch.
 


Jeremy and Mike making a last minute repair about 1 hour before the launch.


 


First Sprite Images From Brazil! Although we have yet to get simultaneous balloon and video measurements of sprites, we have confirmed the presence of sprites over this region of Brazil. These are the first observations of sprites from Brazil (space shuttle astronauts did record sprites over southern Brazil while in orbit). These images were taken by Mike Taylor's group from Utah St. including Dominique Paulet, Fernanda Sao Sabas and Matt Bailey.


The first sprite image captured in Brazil taken just outside the balloon hangar at
INPE in Cachoeira Paulista on Nov, 25, 2002.
 


Sprite image taken from an airplane over southeastern Brazil on Nov. 26, 2002.
Three sprites can be seen on the right side of the image.


 


Update Dec. 7, 2002, 4:38AM
We finally launched one! At 8:00PM local time Dec. 6 we launched the first payload of the Sprite 2002 Campaign.  The launch went smoothly thanks to the excellent balloon group from INPE.  By about 9:30 the balloon reached its float altitude of about 34km and was heading towards a large thundercloud.  For about 1 hour we were flying directly over this thunderstorm getting great field measurements associated with lightning and possibly sprites. Unfortunately, the aircraft with the video camera was unable to verify sprites due to heavy cloud coverage.  Currently the balloon flight is in its 8th hour still taking data over rather clear early morning skies. The flight will terminate at 11AM local time by timer cutoff, and will come down by parachute to hopefully be recovered.  I will post pictures of the launch in the next day or two.
 

Update Nov. 22, 2002
No launch pictures yet but we are hoping for a big thunderstorm system to come through early next week. Our equipment finally cleared customs on Nov. 14. Since then we have been assembling payloads 1 and 2 and setting up our receiving antenna.  A "white squall" came through yesterday with winds up to 80-100mph that partially destroyed our antenna mount and broke part of the roof of our hangar.  I use the term "white squall" because the storm came with no real warning with the sun shining bright and lasted for only 10-15 minutes. But we should be able to recover from this in time to launch if conditions are favorable next week. In the meantime I hope to get to the beach this weekend since I have yet to see the coast here.
 
 

Bob with payloads 1 and 2 in the INPE balloon hangar
 
 

Matt Bailey from Utah St. peaks out of the hangar at the onset of the squall that damaged our antenna.
 
 

Winds start to pick up when the squall moves through. As you can see it is sunny with seemingly blue skies
 
 

Morning fog in Cachoeira Paulista
 
 

In Brazil they use hydrogen rather than the more expensive helium for their balloon flights.  Here you see Tim and Jeremy taking a break.











Update Nov. 9, 2002
Boa Dia!  Here are some pictures from Brazil.  Since everything we shipped has yet to clear Brazilian customs, we can only work on things that we brought with us.  Thats why I have time to make this web page.  We hope to get things cleared through customs next week (11/11/02) so that we can be ready to launch sometime after Nov.20.  If any of the pictures don't show up properly please e-mail me (jnt@u.washington.edu).  I plan to update this page weekly so check back later to see photos of a launch (or if things don't clear customs beach pictures).
 
 

The Sprite Group eating fine Italian food in Cachoeira Paulista.  Clockwise from

                                                                               the left Tim Chinowsky (UW), Bob Holzworth(UW), Mike Taylor(Utah St.)
                                                                               Dominique Paulet(Utah St.), Fernanda Sao Sabbas (U. of Alaska), Jeremy
                                                                               Thomas (UW), Evandro Ferraz (INPE).
 
 

Tim and Jeremy hard at work in the balloon hangar at INPE just outside Cachoeira Paulista.
 

Bob and Tim in the balloon hangar.
 

The balloon hangar near the eventual launch site at INPE, Cachoeira Paulista.
 
 

Evandro Ferraz's Family. Evandro is an engineer with INPE who has been a tremendous
     help.  This was taken at a party at his mother's home about 20km from Cachoeira Paulista.
          Bob, Tim, and Jeremy spent the afternoon eating great food and relaxing with the Ferraz family.
 
 

Jeremy Thomas, Nov.22, 2002