These balloons aren’t your run-of-the-mill helium balloons.

The High Altitude Balloon Experiments in Technology (HABET) group at Iowa State is providing a way for students and researchers to study the engineering and operations behind flying high altitude balloons. In addition, the group develops equipment to fly payloads for its clients.

HABET operates out of the Space Systems Operations Laboratory (SSOL) in the Town Engineering building.

“HABET is an integral part of the lab,” said Mike Cook, HABET project manager.

For their senior design projects, some engineering students have assisted in developing systems for use by HABET.

“We support a lot of senior design teams,” said Arthur Vickers, SSOL manager.

One such design project is the Recovery Guidance System (RGS). The system controls the balloon with a parafoil, or a type of wing, and a servo, which is a small motor.

The balloon currently descends on its own, in the same fashion as a parachute, Cook said.

A launch attempt last week ended with the balloon landing in a tree and hanging 60 feet off the ground. The recovery team spent three hours trying to retrieve it. Eventually, the wind blew the balloon out of the tree, Cook said.

The RGS system will be able to choose from several landing zones based on its ability to maneuver.

In the coming year, HABET plans to fly an antenna for the University of Iowa. The antenna, which weighs about 100 pounds and is nearly 140 feet long, is to be tested for use as part of NASA’s Mars Express mission, Cook said.

The group is working on upgrading the balloons’ payload capabilities. The restrictions for large payload flights are more stringent than for the Light Spacecraft Bus currently in use. With larger payloads, HABET may be able to supplement its funding by flying payloads for outside entities, Cook said.

HABET currently is restructuring the way new members become integrated into the program. A plan is being developed so graduating students can pass on the information they learned, and new members won’t be left in the dark.

Under the new operations plan, “when new students come they can carry on where the graduating students left off,” Vickers said.

All students are eligible to work with HABET.

“The only requirement we have is enthusiasm and a willingness to work,” Cook said.

The project can be found on the Web at cosmos.aeem.iastate.edu /HABET.