Project czANSO (czech Amateur Near-space Object)

05.12.2009 I've accidentally stumbled upon this amazing article and I was immediately fascinated by their results. Taking a photo of pitch black space with nothing but amateur equipment is an idea simply too astonishing to pass on.

So an idea was born. Can we do the same in Czech Republic, Europe?
Let's see.

* for internal communications we use our forum (authorization needed - please, email me, info @ czanso.com )

* public informations and progress reports - our blog (sorry, only czech for now)

05.12.2009 > First idea

07.12.2009 > First individuals offered cooperation

10.12.2009 > Project page was created

23.12.2009 > First technical analysis

14.01.2010 > Flight Control Concept

21.01.2010 > Payload block diagram - http://czanso.com/images/blokove-schema-v1.png

01.02.2010 > The first project sponsor is HWKitchen! ( http://www.hwkitchen.com ). Thank you for Seeeduino Mega board and GSM/GPRS module!

15.02.2010 > We are looking correct gps module

15.02.2010 > It's not so easy to find XBee-PRO 868 supplier

01.03.2010 > Blog created! (sorry, only czech for now)

04.03.2010 > We order from Kaymont balloons and parachute

01.04.2010 > BLOG!

HWKitchen ( http://www.hwkitchen.com ) - thank you!

First idea: Latex weather balloon filled with helium, a radar reflector and payload.

Basic payload is just a digital camera and electronics to transmit the GPS position of the balloon - one of our goals is to find it after landing! :)

This picture was taken by project HALO2 at an altitude of 29 447 m. It will be fascinating for us to do photos like this.

Wonderful, isn't it?