Northern Virginia High Altitude Balloon Project

As inferred in the title, I will be soon launching a High Altitude Balloon (often referred to as HAB among hobbies groups) into the upper atmosphere with the goal of reaching altitudes of 100,000 feet or more.  I would not be the first to make such an attempt, a youtube search yields lots of videos amateurs have created from their launch payload.  The pictures and videos others have captured can be stunning and this is what has let me to where I am now, launching my first balloon payload at the end the month!  Here is a good example of a successful launch video, produced by the JHAB project.  Example picture from another system in the Stratosphere:

Using my EE background and many hours of R&D, I have my electronics finalized most of the assembly completed:

It has taken me threes years working on this off-and-on and I am now grinding through the test phase before the big day.  I have read through dozens of other similar amateur projects and it terrifies me to read " ...the payload could not be recovered."  This threat always looms and its the reality I hope I will not face after all I've invested (time, money, but mostly effort).

If you have stumbled across this page because you are also looking launch a similar payload, I think its important that I say it is easy to underestimate the level of effort that it can require.  I certainly did.  The price tag can get up there too so I recommend getting a bill of materials together early and add some buffer space if you are constrained.

So what makes this system different from other's?  I think I have a rather unique method for the descent where the parachute will be deployed, rather than having it hang below the balloon while ascending.  The parachute has been tucked into a PVC with a small amount of gunpowder to deploy it (as decided by the micro-controller).  Both methods have their advantages, but I am hoping this way, the payload has less of a chance getting entangled with the balloon string or external antenna during the initial chaotic descent while the atmosphere is thin.  Additionally, most of the system was developed more discretely, ultimately controlled by an ATmega micro-controller.

UPDATE - 21st August 2013:

Testing performed on the transmitter was rather successful today.  Ideally, I would have an open field miles across, but US50 in Arlington had to do.  From my vehicle, I tracked the payload 1.25 miles, the entire line of site. After the payload was around the bend in the road, the signal was lost, but I am calling this a successful.  The real test will be when we're tracking the payload in the air where we will have clear line of site.  Fingers crossed we can maintain communication throughout the flight.

Only four days until launch...

Next scheduled launch:  10:00 AM, August 25th, 2013