Photographing the USS Tripoli (September 2010)

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On a sunny, warm day in September 2010, Simon came out for a visit, so we decided to launch another balloon. This time, I added a Holux M-1000C GPS logger, another 1,000 feet of kite line to total about 2,000 feet of line, and some additional weight to the gondola. I also attached the Picavet to two attachment points on the line, hoping that a slight separation from the balloon base would provide additional stability.

We went out to Warm Water Cove Park, a rather ghetto park, filled with concrete and a lot of homeless people, but with a good view of San Francisco Pier 80. Docked at Pier 80 was what looked like a small aircraft carrier, which was right in the projected path of our balloon. Neat!

Simon later identified the ship as the decomissioned former USS Tripoli, the only remaining Iwo Jima class amphibious assault ship in the world. More information on the former USS Tripoli:

The Launch

We made our launch pretty late in the day, well past 4pm. Our launch point was a mostly vacant gravel lot next to Warm Water Cove Park, where some trucks were parked, and some homeless people had set up camp.

Loading a 55 gallon tank of helium into the trunk of the MINI.
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The mysterious carrier that turned out to be the ex-USS Tripoli, as seen from Warm Water Cove Park.
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Simon with the uninflated Big Red Balloon. In red, a dead ringer for an enormous whoopee cushion!
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Andrew preparing the cord reel, this time loaded with 2,000 feet of kite line.
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Loading a 55 gallon tank of helium into the trunk of the MINI. The mysterious carrier that turned out to be the ex-USS Tripoli, as seen from Warm Water Cove Park. Simon with the uninflated Big Red Balloon. In red, a dead ringer for an enormous whoopee cushion! Andrew preparing the cord reel, this time loaded with 2,000 feet of kite line.

The Ho Brothers survey the area. The deck of the ex-USS Tripoli is visible in the background.
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Simon and Patrick brace the Big Red Balloon while it is inflating.
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Balloon is inflated, gondola is attached. Launch time!
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Hoshi, TJ, Erica, Patrick, Holly, and Karen watching the launch.
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The Ho Brothers survey the area. The deck of the ex-USS Tripoli is visible in the background. Simon and Patrick brace the Big Red Balloon while it is inflating. Balloon is inflated, gondola is attached. Launch time! Hoshi, TJ, Erica, Patrick, Holly, and Karen watching the launch.

The reel unwinds! Andrew using a gloved hand to slow the reel.
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Holly tracks the balloon while it ascends.
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Patrick watching the balloon go up.
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TJ and Erica watching the balloon go up.
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The reel unwinds! Andrew using a gloved hand to slow the reel. Holly tracks the balloon while it ascends. Patrick watching the balloon go up. TJ and Erica watching the balloon go up.

The angle of the kite line was very nearly horizontal for some time during the balloon ascent.
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The balloon is starting to get far enough away it is hard to track without optical help.
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I think Tingting is a little overdressed for this balloon launch.
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The angle of the kite line was very nearly horizontal for some time during the balloon ascent. The balloon is starting to get far enough away it is hard to track without optical help. I think Tingting is a little overdressed for this balloon launch.  

We kept the balloon aloft for about 40 minutes total. In that time, it ascended to around 200 meters (650 feet, see the Balloon Position section for more details on the altitude and flight path). For 2,000 feet of line, that seems not very high! I think we need more lifting power, and I should fill the balloon with more helium in the future.

A blurry early post-launch view, looking down at us.
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Our first tantalizing look at the deck of the carrier.
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Another closeup view of the carrier deck.
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You can see side elevators, radar tower, and various landing markers.
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A blurry early post-launch view, looking down at us. Our first tantalizing look at the deck of the carrier. Another closeup view of the carrier deck. You can see side elevators, radar tower, and various landing markers.

A awesome panoramic overhead shot of the former USS Tripoli.
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The tugboat attached to the ex-USS Tripoli, which Simon IDed as the USNS Narragansett.
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An unidentified third boat (other than Tripoli and Narragansett) on the east side of the dock.
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This shot looking back west is very overexposed, but it shows the orientation of the Tripoli and Narragansett to the gravel lot we did the launch from.
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A awesome panoramic overhead shot of the former USS Tripoli. The tugboat attached to the ex-USS Tripoli, which Simon IDed as the USNS Narragansett. An unidentified third boat (other than Tripoli and Narragansett) on the east side of the dock. This shot looking back west is very overexposed, but it shows the orientation of the Tripoli and Narragansett to the gravel lot we did the launch from.

The San Francisco central waterfront, with a view of the dry docks, the Bay Bridge, and the downtown skyline.
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Looking back at the gravel lot and Warm Water Cove park, you can just barely see our crew, and the tether line.
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A view of the Pier 80 parking lot and buildings.
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Looking southwards, past the unidentified third boat, and on to Islais Creek/Bayview.
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The San Francisco central waterfront, with a view of the dry docks, the Bay Bridge, and the downtown skyline. Looking back at the gravel lot and Warm Water Cove park, you can just barely see our crew, and the tether line. A view of the Pier 80 parking lot and buildings. Looking southwards, past the unidentified third boat, and on to Islais Creek/Bayview.

Another closeup view of the probable USNS Narragansett.
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Sharp view of the tall black loading crane closest to us on the pier.
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Tugboat and crane together.
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Another closeup view of the probable USNS Narragansett. Sharp view of the tall black loading crane closest to us on the pier. Tugboat and crane together.  

We started reeling in the balloon after it sat above the former USS Tripoli for some time. It takes a lot of time to reel in 2,000 feet of line. In the future, if we can work out some sort of drill or winch system, it would make things much easier and faster.

Andrew hauling in the balloon by hand, wearing gloves to prevent the "Joe Ruff rope burn" condition.
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Division of labor: Andrew hauls, TJ feeds, Patrick reels.
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Simon takes a turn hauling in the balloon, while Erica, Tingting, and Karen watch.
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Surprising large-scale graffiti, only visible from the air. "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution." There's also a penis.
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Andrew hauling in the balloon by hand, wearing gloves to prevent the "Joe Ruff rope burn" condition. Division of labor: Andrew hauls, TJ feeds, Patrick reels. Simon takes a turn hauling in the balloon, while Erica, Tingting, and Karen watch. Surprising large-scale graffiti, only visible from the air. "If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution." There's also a penis.

Holly and Andrew standing under the balloon while it descends.
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A panorama of Holly and Andrew, plus the anarchist/existentialist graffiti.
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Getting closer to Holly and Andrew.
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Slowly descending, the rest of the group becomes visible (check out Simon's high-visibility top!).
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Holly and Andrew standing under the balloon while it descends. A panorama of Holly and Andrew, plus the anarchist/existentialist graffiti. Getting closer to Holly and Andrew. Slowly descending, the rest of the group becomes visible (check out Simon's high-visibility top!).

Still hauling in the balloon, which is visible in the distance. Reeling in 2,000 feet of line takes a long time!
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The view from the balloon as it nears the ground.
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The B.R.B. is almost down!
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The balloon approaches Andrew menacingly.
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Still hauling in the balloon, which is visible in the distance. Reeling in 2,000 feet of line takes a long time! The view from the balloon as it nears the ground. The B.R.B. is almost down! The balloon approaches Andrew menacingly.

A close-up blurry shot of Hoshi grabbing at the balloon.
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And finally the balloon is safely recovered!
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Andrew extracts the GPS logger and camera from the gondola. It is always a relief to safely recover the precious airborne cargo...
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Simon looks happy with the mission outcome.
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A close-up blurry shot of Hoshi grabbing at the balloon. And finally the balloon is safely recovered! Andrew extracts the GPS logger and camera from the gondola. It is always a relief to safely recover the precious airborne cargo... Simon looks happy with the mission outcome.

Balloon Position

Now that the balloon gondola is equipped with a GPS logger, I can map the route travelled:

I can also now determine the approximate altitude that the camera reaches. It's surprisingly low, considering 2,000 feet of play. Over the approximately 40 minute balloon launch, it only made it up to around 200 meters (650 feet). Here's a graph of its altitude:

You can download the GPS data in GPS Exchange Format (GPX); in Google's KML format, which you can use to view the balloon path in Google Maps; or as a comma-separated text file that you can import into Excel.


Andrew Ho (andrew@zeuscat.com)