Before launching you may want to use the following as a checklist.

1. Brush contact cement on solder side of CricketSat board and allow to dry.

2. Build a simple parachute. Some suggestions are use a trash bag in half and tied with kite string at four corners. Secure a knot in the top of the chute. You could use a pre-made chute like those used for model rockets. Do not launch without a parachute.

3. Place CricketSat in a lightweight brown mailing envelope. You could use a padded envelope, but not a white one intended for letters. Or you could sandwich the CricketSat between two pieces of Styrofoam. The intent here is to make for a soft landing. It is a good idea to extend the antenna wires out of your package. If launching in rain or through clouds, wrap the board in plastic or a sandwich type bag to keep everything dry.

4. Place your contact information on the package. It is also suggested that you label the package with the words

"This is a harmless radio device launched by students.
Please return to the address on the label
or call (area code + phone number) for more information."

You can also place stickers on the package if you so desire, i.e. NASA, ASGC, etc.

5. Tie the package to the parachute with kite string. Allow the CricketSat to hang about 8-12 inches below the chute.

6. Inflate a 36 inch or larger balloon with helium and tie to the top of the parachute. Allow for about 8-12 inches between the balloon and chute. Zip ties are excellent for closing the balloon's neck. While in the classroom, insure that the balloon will lift the CricketSat and connected parachute assembly. If not, cur the Zip tie and inflate the balloon more, close off the neck and retry the lift.

7. Make sure the CricketSat is powered on and transmitting before sealing everything up for flight.

8. Check for frequency tone pulse on a receiver before launch to ensure everything is working properly.

9. Record the time interval between pulses for several cycles before launch both to establish a data collection pattern as well as to check the calibration against the actual air temperature.

10. Release the balloon and payload at a tone pulse signal. Begin data collection using a stopwatch.

1. Before the balloon is released, listen for the tone pulse to ensure your receiver is operating properly. Make several measurements of the time between pulses and record on a data sheet.

2. If known, record altitude of launch site.

3. Record the temperature at the launch site on a data sheet.

4. Reset stopwatch to zero before launch.

5. At release of the balloon, start the stopwatch.

6. Each time a tone pulse signal is heard, record the time in minutes and seconds on the data sheet.

7. Continue to record the time of the signals until the last signal is heard.

Outdood Air	Time between	Calculated
Temperature	tone pulses	Temperature
.	.	.
.	.	.
.	.	.
.	.	.
.	.	.
.	.	.

Lift-Off . . . . . . . . . . . Time ________________ CST / CDT

Time is written as Hours:Minutes:Seconds or H:MM:SS format

Start Stopwatch at tone	Elapsed Time	Calculated
0: . . . .00 . . .: . . . 00	since last tone	Temperature (°C / °F)
0: . . . 00. . . : . . ._____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.
0: . . ._____ : . . . _____	.	.

 An MS Excel spreadsheet which automatically calculates the interval time is at tonetime.xls