SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX022 ARLX022 Earthwinds balloon ops
ZCZC AX31 QST de W1AW Special Bulletin 22  ARLX022
From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT  November 5, 1993
To all radio amateurs

Earthwinds Balloon on 145.550 MHz

The Earthwinds Hilton balloon is anticipated to be
launched from Reno Stead Airfield in Reno, Nevada on
Saturday, November 6 at 1400 UTC.  The manned- balloon
will carry 2-meter equipment for communicating with the
Amateur Radio community and the ham operators aboard the
Mir space station.  All communications will be conducted
on 2-meters simplex, 145.55 MHz.

The balloon will circumnavigate the globe at nearly 35,000 feet, near the 45th
parallel.  Saturday's flight path
should take the balloon from Reno Nevada to New Mexico; on Sunday from New
Mexico to Louisiana; and on Monday across
North or South Carolina and out over the Atlantic Ocean
around 1600 UTC.

Shortwave listeners may also wish to tune into the
following receive-only frequencies for status reports:
5.451, 5.469, 5.571, 8.822, 10.045, 11.306 and 17.964 MHz.

The crew hopes to become the first to circumnavigate the
Earth in a manned- balloon.  They will also conduct tests
on the Earth's atmosphere and study the condition of the
ozone layer.  The balloon design is a revolutionary two-
balloon system consisting of a 180 foot high upper
balloon, and a 110 foot round lower anchor balloon. The
balloon will travel in the Earth's jet stream.

QSL via Gordon West, WB6NOA, 2414 College Drive, Costa
Mesa CA 92626.  Please include a stamped, self-addressed
envelope.
