Participants' Amateur Radio callsigns are noted where I knew of them.
![[picture]](jpa199905-a01-light-tn.gif) |
This light tower was put up by Sacramento Channel 10 because
they had trouble filming the pre-dawn activities back in September.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a02-signin-tn.gif) |
ERPS's Dave Lautenschlager signs in at 3:30AM.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a03-box-tn.gif) |
This is the launch box that will eventually hold the rocket
while the balloons carry them up.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a04-tanks-tn.gif) |
People are starting to move (roll) the Helium tanks out.
One is jumping over the "caution" ribbon to follow the
tank he just pushed.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a05-cam-tn.gif) |
The Sacramento Channel 10 cameraman.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a06-cons-tn.gif) |
The ground control consoles.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a07-rocket-tn.gif) |
The rocket.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a08-meeting-tn.gif) |
JP Aerospace founder, John "JP" Powell W6JPA, starts the launch
process with a meeting and then picks the balloon filling team captains.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a09-dawn-tn.gif) |
Filling balloons as daylight begins to show on the eastern horizon.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a10-sunrise-tn.gif) |
Sunrise at Black Rock, and half the balloons are filled.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a11-camp-tn.gif) |
A view of the JPA camp with all 10 balloons filled and waiting
in the calm air.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a12-crew-tn.gif) |
The JPA crews work on a last-minute problem with the rocket's
GPS receiver.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a13-news-tn.gif) |
The CNN and Channel 10 news crews.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a14-plane-tn.gif) |
A Cessna 172 arrives at 7AM with Brad Walker and Sam Severs N6FAV
from the Bay Area.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a15-box-tn.gif) |
The rocket is ready and the launch box is brought out into position.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a16-ready-tn.gif) |
Balloons are being brought into position for launch.
The deformation of the balloons in the photo is an indication that
by now (8AM), the wind has picked up.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a17-cancel-tn.gif) |
The wind started popping balloons one by one until there weren't
enough spares.
The launch is scrubbed and will be tried again Sunday.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a18-balloon-tn.gif) |
One of the teams struggles in the wind and successfully salvages
a balloon.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a19-cnn-tn.gif) |
The CNN crew looks unhappy. Probably because of the wind.
It did that to everyone.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a20-plane-tn.gif) |
Brad and Sam depart for Palo Alto.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a21-plane-tn.gif) |
Takeoff.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-a22-plane-tn.gif) |
Brad and Sam fly by on their departure.
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![[picture]](jpa199905-b01-dawn-tn.gif) |
Sunday at dawn - balloons are being filled for another attempt.
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