Important Legal Documentation
European Legislation – European legislation nº 923/2012 with regulation regarding balloon launches in annex 2 (in portuguese).
Portuguese Legislation – Very important and recent (12th August 2013) documentation about the requirements and the authorities that should authorize this type of launches.
Portuguese Special Callsign: This is the legal documentation regarding the request for a temporary callsign in order to transmit APRS. It is given by the portuguese comunication authority – ANACOM
Aerial Imagery Formulary – In Portugal in order to take aerial imagery it is required authorization from the Portuguese National Aviation Authority by filling and submitting the forms in the link provided.
Article 1 / Article 2 – nice articles demystifying the dangers of launching an atmospheric balloon.
Predictors
HabHub predictor – This website is an awesome tool to predict were the balloon will land based on a number of inputs such as the launching location, time, ascent rate, etc. It is based on Google Maps, so it’s very easy to use.
Wyoming Balloon Trajectory Forcaster – An old balloon trajectory predictor. Worst than the previous one.
Important Information
UKHAS – UK High Altitude Society is a collection of people who are interested in launching unmanned high altitude balloons into near space. Their wiki is full of extremely good and useful content.
Arduino – Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It’s intended for artists, designers, hobbyists and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.
High Altitude Science – Information, Advice and Equipment.
Prepare a Mission – A “Typical” balloon mission/Answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
Raspberry PI – The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized computer that plugs into your TV and a keyboard. It’s a capable little PC which can be used for many of the things that your desktop PC does, like spreadsheets, word-processing and games. It also plays high-definition video.
Tracking
Space Near Us Map – Realtime maps of balloon activity and spots.
APRS MAP – Aprs realtime tracking map.
Weather
IPMA – Stands for Portuguese Institute of Ocean and Atmosphere, and it is a public institution responsible for the analysis of the condition of the oceans and atmosphere.
METEO-IST – Portuguese academic weather forecast tool calibrated specifically for the Portuguese geography.
NOAA – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere.
Components/Suppliers
HAB Supplies – A very good website with radio, GPS and antenna solutions specifically designed to high altitude ballooning.
Random Solutions – A good supplier of parachutes and balloons.
SparkFun – United States based company. A bit pricey, but good products, solutions and documentation.
Farnell / RS / Mouser – These websites have everything that is electronics related and more. You don’t need to look anywhere else for electronic components.
OSHPark – A good website to print your PCB. It allows a small batch print (minimal of 3 pcb’s), it is a bit pricey but with very good quality and with purple soldermask!
Nozag – Drive systems and components specialists.
Thingiverse – 3D printing parts repository.
GoPro – Camera often used in HAB application
SPOT – Satellite based tracking system
Other Groups in Portugal
Spacebits – An excelent group of portuguese HAB hobbyists that already launched and recovered several successful ballons.