ARLA/CLUSTER: Radiobalão australiano pode realizar uma inesperada segunda circunnavegação à Terra

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Balloon flight proves embarrassingly unpredictable

The path of pico party-type foil balloon *PS-46* launched from Australia on
May 23 has been recalculated, after it unexpectedly shied away from
reaching its starting longitude to head north.

*Andy Nguyen VK3YT* was confident that PS-46 would officially complete its
second trip around the southern hemisphere on Thursday July 3 - but it came
so close.

He said: “The balloon was within 404km from the crossover line … before
heading north for another loop. The prediction was a bit out.�

PS-46 has travelled an enormous distance in its six weeks. However, a firm
lesson from it is that when over water the balloon has gone ‘loopy’. It has
on the trip formed loops as it neared and departed the continents of South
America, Africa and now Australia.

VK and ZL trackers using WSPR and JT9 flight data now have the balloon
doing a slow loop in the Gulf of Carpenteria in North Australia. Hopefully
it will reach longitude of 144.894 degree East - the cross over point.

The PS-46 balloon had circumnavigated the southern hemisphere after 12 days
on Thursday June 4, but this trip was influenced by more northerly
jetstreams.

The prevailing winds make the journey slower, but without storms, leading
to its longevity. Earlier attempts in the series ended in adverse weather.

*Jim Linton VK3PC*
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