TYCHO20

The TYCHO STRATOCRAFT is a specially built modular platform developed by World View capable of being customized for a wide variety of unique mission needs and payloads including its own subsystems for telemetry, payload control, power and thermal control. It is named after the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546-1601). As Brahe was the source of data used by others to make powerful discoveries, Tycho stratocraft is aimed to provide researchers with stratospheric access to make new discoveries.

There are three standard versions of the Tycho platforms for specific payload mass ranges: Tycho800, Tycho285 and Tycho20, where the number denotes the number of kilos that each of them can lift as payload. The systems that composed the TYCHO platform share heritage with those used by StratEx for the record setting manned balloon flights performed in October 2014.

TYCHO20 CHARACTERISTICS

Tycho20 is a stratocraft configuration for small, high altitude payloads that could be safely launched with minimal crew and infrastructure. It could fly payloads up to 20 kg to altitudes up to 46 km using a simple Payload Support Frame (PSF) which is used to integrate the payload, avionics, and aerodynamic descent system (ADS) into a single package. This simple and lightweight frame is made of 80/20 one inch extruded aluminum bar to which the payload is secured via a hook or by employing a T-slot system. Often times, an interface plate is provided to simplify the mechanical interfaces and ensure quick, reliable integration of the payload to the stratocraft PSF. Payloads within the 20 kg mass, but that do not fit within the Tycho20 PSF can still be flown using a Payload Release Interface (PRI). A single or combination of payloads of 20kg can be accommodated in the standard PSF with dimensions not exceeding a length of 75cm, width of 75cm and height of 25cm. A total hook on volume of up to 10 cubic meters can be accommodated as standard if the payload is configured to be a direct connect configuration attached to the PRI for a total payload mass upto 45 kg.

The Tycho20 avionics is a repackaged version of that used in Tycho285 -the larger version of the platform- where only required hardware is included to keep weight to a minimum: a flight computer, a flight transponder, video cameras, ground and satellite-based data communication, GPS and flight batteries. The standard Tycho20 is capable of up to 11 hours of flight time.

The platform counts with an UART serial interface to payload provider's telemetry and command functions and can be outfitted with GoPro cameras to record flight video. Power is obtained from batteries which provide voltages of 3.3, 5, 15 or 24 VDC and up to 20 amperes. The stratocraft uses a 902-928 MHz, frequency hopping, 1 watt output power, spread spectrum modem to communicate telemetry and commands at up to 1200 bps up to a distance of 160 miles. This system is used also for information and data to and from the platform during the flight.

SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS ONBOARD

On this flight TYCHO hosted the following payloads:

Draper Multi-Environment Navigator (DMEN) developed by Draper Lab. Inc. to test the vision-based navigation techniques required for precise lunar landing. DMEN is a self-contained package that weighed four pounds and fits within a volume of 10 square inches. All necessary hardware is contained within the system, except for the external camera lens, including an inertial measurement unit sensor, camera body, processing, sensor circuitry and battery power. A suite of algorithms process the sensor data into a navigation solution, providing capability for visual-inertial odometry and visual terrain-based absolute positioning.

The second payload was GPHAR (Guided Parafoil High Altitude Research) developed by Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc. The primary objectives of the GPHAR program are to both investigate the flight envelope and mature the technology related to the deployment and flight of parafoils at altitudes above 25,000 ft. MSL. Development of this technology will enable capabilities such as recovery of scientific balloon payloads, recovery and re-use of rocket components, satellite recovery, ISS sample return, and Mars or other terrestrial body descent and landing systems.

Balloon launched on: 4/9/2019
Launch site: Spaceport Tucson, Arizona, US  
Balloon launched by: World View Enterprises
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon  
Flight identification number: T20-09
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 4/9/2019

• Draper Multi-Environment Navigator High Altitude Balloon Campaign Flight Opportunities Program
• Guided Parafoil High Altitude Research II Flight Opportunities Program
• Paving the Way for Precise Small Lunar Landers Draper press release