BUBBLE
BUoyancy Balloon Bus Lifted Experiments
Our Payloads
BUBBLE 1
The payload of BUBBLE 1 came from the Institute of Space Systems (IRS) at the University of Stuttgart. It consisted of two sensors that measured the brightness of the sky. The measurement was carried out at daytime in order to record the decrease in scattered light during the ascent. In other words: how black is the sky at an altitude of 30 km? A GoPro mounted above the gondola recorded approximately the first half of the ascent before the battery was exhausted. This was expected, as the camera had only been mounted shortly before take-off and was equipped with no additional battery and little thermal insulation.
BUBBLE 2
BUBBLE 3
For the third iteration of BUBBLE, we used a new nacelle design that was easier to assemble than the double pyramid shape of the previous missions. Inside, an easily adaptable racking system was implemented to accommodate the various payloads. The payloads contained temperature sensors to obtain high-resolution temperature data from different areas of the nacelle. The prototype of a flight termination system, which will later cut the cord between the balloon and the parachute, was also tested.
Commercial Payloads
If you are interested in launching a payload with the successor of BUBBLE, our project PARSEC, please contact us! We are happy to accept any commercial payload that is to be tested on weather balloons. We also offer various interfaces for operating the experiments, we would be happy to discuss the details with you.
Timeline
Construction begins, tests underway
Slowly but surely, BUBBLE1 is emerging. Every subsystem is productively planning, building, coding and testing.
Successful flight of BUBBLE 1
BUBBLE 1, the first high-altitude research balloon from the student small satellite group at the University of Stuttgart, has finally been allowed to take off. It took a long time for the weather to cooperate and allow the launch. The reason was the wind, which would otherwise have carried BUBBLE 1 many kilometers or even over the Alps. On one of the coldest days of the month, the wind was favorable and the BUBBLE team met at 9 a.m. to prepare for the launch. After a few final difficulties with the software, the team was able to head to the launch site at around 1pm.
BUBBLE-Team tests Tracking- & Recovery
To practice tracking and recovery for their own upcoming launch, the BUBBLE team helped track a private high-altitude research balloon - a camera and some personal items were flown into the stratosphere as a payload. After taking off near the University of Stuttgart, the balloon reached an altitude of around 34.8 km in a two-hour flight and landed in a wooded area.
BUBBLE 2 ready to start
In rising summer temperatures, BUBBLE 2 successfully completed its system test - a critical milestone in the launch preparations. During the 2.5-hour test run, every function, such as the reliable radio connection, battery behavior and correct data recording, was tested and no problems were identified.
BUBBLE 2 successfully launched
30°C outside temperature in Stuttgart and the team gathered with negative corona tests on the university campus in Vaihingen to make the final preparations for the balloon launch. A flight time of roughly 3 hours was calculated beforehand. On windless days, the balloon does not fly too far away, which makes the chase more comfortable, so on this day too, everything could be tidied up first, the water bottles filled and an ice cream eaten.
BUBBLE 3 also successfully launched
This summer was crowned with successful starts. The new nacelle design was verified with BUBBLE 3.
More about this topic
Student weather balloons
Student experiments on board weather balloons offer a unique opportunity to explore the upper layers of the atmosphere. Weather balloons, which often ascend into the stratosphere, carry sensors and instruments that allow students to collect data on temperature, pressure, humidity and radiation. These conditions, which are similar to the Martian atmosphere, make weather balloons a cost-effective platform for experiments exploring extraterrestrial environments. Such projects promote hands-on learning and interdisciplinary collaboration as they combine knowledge from physics, meteorology, engineering and computer science.
The development of experiments for weather balloons presents students with real technical challenges, such as the construction of robust measuring devices that must withstand the extreme temperatures and low pressures. In addition, the payloads must be lightweight and aerodynamically designed so as not to impair the limited buoyancy of the balloon. In addition to the hardware, the software is also crucial: sensors must be programmed and data logging systems developed that work autonomously during the flight. Such challenges offer students an excellent opportunity to acquire valuable skills in project management and technical problem solving. These experiments not only help train the next generation of scientists and engineers, but also provide valuable data for science.
We are looking for you!
Has BUBBLE sparked your interest? We are always on the lookout for new members!
Whether you are just starting out in your 1st semester or are already a space expert and no matter what you are studying, we can find an exciting position for everyone in our team. All our projects are organized in subsystems that are responsible for different sub-areas. If you already know what you want to do, get in touch with us!
Participation in BUBBLE is no longer possible due to the termination of the project, but the further developed project PARSEC is always looking for new members!
BUBBLE Subsystems
Project Lead
Our all-rounders who hold the project together. They keep an eye on deadlines, manage communication and organize team events. Experienced club members create a framework for a successful project.
Structure
The Structure subsystem takes care of the mechanical part of the capsule, primarily the development and production of the housing and the mechanical interfaces to the payloads. The Structure team also has to define the specifications for the paid payloads in order to integrate them seamlessly.
Electronics
In addition to selecting suitable components, the electronics team also takes care of the electronic design of the individual circuit boards and experiment connections as well as the layout of the overall system. Tasks ranging from power supply to data communication and storage are carried out on circuit boards, some of which are developed in-house.
Software
Software that ensures operation and communication between the components runs on the main computer as well as on each additional microcontroller. The team has to address the special challenges of the payloads. If the software doesn’t work, the project doesn’t work!
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