Home of The Great Plains Super Launch

T- 2012-06-07 08:30:00 GMT-06:00 To GPSL 2012!

Location: Omaha, NE
Host: Nebraska Stratospheric Amateur Radio (NSTAR)

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Welcome to The Official
GPSL Website!

Our Mission
The Great Plains Super Launch is the premier conference for near space explorers and enthusiasts dedicated to the education and study of aerospace science via Amateur Radio High Altitude Ballooning.

Our Hosts
Nebraska Stratospheric Amateur Radio (NSTAR) is an informal association of high-altitude ballooning enthusiasts based in the Omaha, Nebraska area. NSTAR has conducted over 40 flights since October 2000 and was one of three groups that participated in the inaugural GPSL event in 2001. We have provided educational launches throughout our history, including annual launches for the annual Central Plains Severe Weather Symposium and University of Nebraska-Omaha Aerospace Education Workshop.

What is Near Space?

Near space is that region of the atmosphere above 60,000 feet but below the accepted altitude of space, 328,000 feet. These altitudes make near space far more like earth orbit than the surface of the earth. Air pressure in near space reaches 99% of a vacuum or better. Air temperatures drop to a low of -60 degrees F or colder. Cosmic radiation is over 100 times greater than at sea level. Near space is located within the ozone layer and therefore is an environment of increased damaging ultraviolet radiation. Near space is reached by helium or hydrogen-filled weather balloons. Since it is far less expensive to send payloads into near space than earth orbit, organizations like NASA will send new designs into near space first, as a test.

GPSL 2012 Tentative Schedule

Thursday, June 7 --

1-5 pm: Guided tour of the Strategic Air and Space Museum near Ashland, NE (just off I-80 Exit 426, about 25 miles southwest of Omaha).

7-9 pm: Early arrivals dinner at the Upstream Brewing Co. (171st and West Center Road, Omaha - this is tentative)

Friday, June 8 --

(all Friday events at Arbor Hall Omaha, 14040 Arbor St [near 144th St and Center St])

Admission for the Friday sessions will be $40 per person, which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hall. Coffee, iced tea, and water will be available through the day. Additional dinner tickets for spouses, etc., can be purchased for $16. If you don't want to attend the Friday dinner, the cost for breakfast, lunch, and the sessions will be $25. My wife arranges her professional meetings at Arbor Hall regularly and says the food and service is outstanding, and this is a very reasonable price for the total package. It will also be very convenient to have everything in one location Friday to minimize wasted time driving.

8am: Doors open, light breakfast

9am-noon: Presentations begin

Noon-1pm: Lunch (sandwiches/salad)

1pm-4pm: Presentations continue

4pm-5pm: Weather briefing, launch logistics, etc.

5pm-6:30pm: Break

6:30-8:30pm: Dinner (roast beef/chicken, steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, dessert, no-host cash bar)

Saturday, June 9 --

6:30am: Launch crews arrive

7:30-9am: Launches

11am-6pm: Post flight lunch and discussions at Don Carmelo's Pizza in Elkhorn (north of West Dodge Rd on 204th St)

Sunday, June 10 --
Backup flight day

Expected 2012 Participants

Links and The Past

Near Space Links

Past Participants