ARCA

Video journal entry 34

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Final preparations are being carried out before Helen 2 rocket launch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY_CCxcW9Gw

Mission 4 computer animation

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:00:56 +0200

The computer generated animation for Helen 2 flight has been released. Click on the image below to view it on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJKk9het6vI

Loading helium canisters onboard 281 Constanta

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:56 +0200

The helium canisters required to inflate the carrier balloon of Helen 2 rocket were loaded onboard NSSL 281 Constanta and were stored in the helicopter hangar.

http://picasaweb.google.com/arcaorbital/Heliu#

Helen 2 rocket loaded unto 281 Constanta ship

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Today Helen 2 rocket equipments were loaded unto NSSL 281 Constanta ship. In the following period joint training exercises will take place between ARCA, The Romanian Navy and The Divers Center in order to prepare the launch activity.

http://picasaweb.google.com/arcaorbital/Helen2Loading#

Video journal entry 33

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:00:56 +0200

ARCA has commenced building the hellium balloon for Mission 4. The balloon is 60 meters long, has a volume of 20.000 cubic meters and is made from 40 micrometers thick polyethylene. It will be launched from the deck of 281 Constanta ship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s3HOn3TM_M

TS2 Satellite Technologies supports ARCA

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:00:56 +0200

TS2 Satellite Technologies is supporting Mission 4 flight with satellite telecommunications equipments. These equipments will allow an optimum communication among ARCA's partners for this first Google Lunar X Prize flight: The Romanian Navy, Air Force and Civil Air Traffic Control Centres.

TS2 company is providing global satellite access services. Among TS2 clients are: U.S. Department of State, Lockheed Martin Information Technology, General Dynamics Information Technology, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace, US Naval Research Laboratory, etc.

100 years from Vlaicu's flight

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Today 100 years have passed since Aurel Vlaicu's first flight in Romania, using an aircraft built entirely in our country.

http://earlyaviators.com/evlaicu1.htm

Going into space

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:00:56 +0200

"Going into space" is from today the ARCA motto. Because our dream is to fly into space, no matter how time or effort is required! We want to inspire people through our projects and acomplishements, to stimulate imagination and to prove that anything is possible (in Romania as anywhere else), so long as there is a high goal and the unyielding willpower to reach it.

ROMATSA meeting

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Today at ROMATSA headquarters a meeting took place between ARCA, ROMATSA and Air Force representatives, with the purpose of planning Helen 2 rocket launch activity from the Black Sea, that will take place soon.

Civil Society Awards

Sat, 29 May 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Arca has won the special prize form Civil Society Awards for its contributions in aerospace field and for the uniqueness of its projects.

http://www.galasocietatiicivile.ro/castigatori.php

Video journal entry 32

Thu, 27 May 2010 14:00:56 +0200

The ground team supports hot air balloon landing and recovery operation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_Cm3DYM3wY

Video journal entry 31

Sat, 15 May 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Hot air balloon landing filmed from onboard Wilga observer plane.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycd7AE3OS-Y

Video journal entry 30

Wed, 12 May 2010 14:00:56 +0200

ELL capsule lifted onboard balloon nacelle, after finishing electronic equipments tests.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yzAz75dVEA

Video journal entry 29

Sun, 09 May 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Hot air balloon is descending below cloud level after successful equipment tests of Helen 2 space rocket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pG1vb-126Q

National Children Astronomy Contest - Equinox

Fri, 07 May 2010 14:00:56 +0200

On March 20th 2010 at "Stefan cel Mare" University Planetarium in Suceava, took place the 7th edition of the National Children Astronomy Contest - Equinox. The contest is divided into three sections: atronomical knowledge contest, astronomy literary creations and astronomy graphics.

At the astronomy knowledge section, have participated 90 children from schools in Suceava county.

250 children from schools in various counties have presented drawings and pictures with subjects in astronomy and cosmonautics. The drawings whith subjects in space flight were selected for ARCA campaign "Send your pictures into space".

http://picasaweb.google.com/arcaorbital/Equinox#

Video journal entry 28

Tue, 04 May 2010 14:00:56 +0200

The crew of the Wilga observer plane is filming the balloon during a spectacular sharp turn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nSOfpKoN2A

Video journal entry 27

Mon, 03 May 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Two observer planes take off from Sanpetru airfield to film the carrier hot air ballon for the Mission 5 test flight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLCMqkI1jU4

Video journal entry 26

Sat, 01 May 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Hot air balloon lift-off carrying ELL capsule, Helen 2 first stage capsule and electronic equipments for testing, in preparation for Mission 4 that will be lauched from the Black Sea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNIoEPGxhyU

Mission 5 was largely covered in TV media

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Below you can see Mission 5 related in TV news on four channels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qUS2ySaRy8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE-9DNi0hzo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjqcPmD3FhY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMdVBfihpKs

Successful flight of Helen 2 electronic equipments during Mission 5

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:00:56 +0200

The Romanian Cosmonautics and Aeronautics Association (ARCA) in partnership with Romanian Air Club and Romanian Aeronautics Federation have launched Mission 5, the test before Helen 2 space rocket launch.

The flight took place between 07:45 - 08:45 AM , with take-off from Hoghiz - Brasov.

During this flight, a manned hot air balloon lifted to 5200m altitude the Helen 2 first stage pressurised capsule and the ELL capsule (European Lunar Lander). The maximum distance between the carrier balloon and the command center at Sanpetru airfield was 42 km, which corresponds with safety zone simulation for Helen 2 rocket.

The flight objectives were:

- live TV transmission test

- telemetry systems test with radio and satellite reception

- command systems test with radio and satellite transmission

- pneumatics systems test for rocket stage separation and the system for triggering the supersonic recovery parachutes The flight results were:

- overall the TV system worked well, reception time was aprox 92% of emission time

- the radio and satellite telemetry systems worked perfectly during flight

- two out of three radio command systems worked perfectly. The third malfunctioned due to circuit cut-off from command panel to transmission antenna. When the problem was solved, the carrier balloon descended below radio sight and reception was no longer possible. Satellite command system worked perfectly.

- the pneumatic rocket stage separation systems and the system for triggering the supersonic recovery parachutes worked perfectly. "If Helen 2 rocket launch would have taken place today, from pneumatic and electronic equipments standpoint, we would have reached outer space" - Dumitru Popescu, ARCA president.

Balloon crew was comprised of Mihai Ilie - pilot, Mugurel Ionescu - copilot and Dumitru Popescu Helen 2 rocket equipments operator. This flight is a part of The Google Lunar Xprize international competition.

Helen 2 space rocket will be launched in very short time from the Black Sea during the already scheduled Mission 4.

Mission 5 Press Release

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Aeronautics and Cosmonautics Romanian Association (ARCA), together with the Romanian Airclub and the Romanian Aeronautical Federation, will launch Mission 5, a forerunner test of the Helen 2 space rocket launch. The flight will take place on 27 April at 07:00 AM Bucharest, with departure area near Hoghiz – Brasov. In this flight, a hot air balloon will raise the pressurized capsule of Helen 2 rocket's first stage 1 and the ELL (European Lunar Lander). Download the full press release here

http://www.arcaspace.com/ro/comunicat_presa_ARCA.pdf

Video journal entry 25

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Pilot and copilot check the high altitude breathing equipment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q898vowTvi0

Video journal entry 24

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Mihai Ilie, hot air balloon pilot discusses optimal parameters and solutions to launch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stL3G_K__7I

Video journal entry 23

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:00:56 +0200

ARCA team has arrived at Sanpetru, Brasov airclub in preparation for the Monday balloon flight that will test equipments for the Helen 2 Black Sea launch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-PJbJThm9c

Video journal entry 22

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:00:56 +0200

About the second stage engine of Helen 2 rocket. Traction force measures two tons at first stage and 500 kg at second stage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vh_g073qOA

Video journal entry 21

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:00:56 +0200

About the first stage fuel tank, check valves, injectors, and electronic components that control them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVGb3qGwHMY

Video journal entry 20

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Simona Popescu describes the equipments inside the capsule of the first stage of Helen 2 rocket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgOf8ZbyX4U

Video journal entry 19

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Simona Popescu presents the components of Helen 2 rocket first stage. The Helen 2 rocket was designed as a demonstrator for Moon flight capable Haas rocket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPh97QQqS3w

Video journal entry 18

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Simona Popescu and Claudia Parvu prepare poscards for Easter. It is in ARCA tradition to send postcards on important holydays to every person and insitution we collaborate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMv38-kbPoQ

Video journal entry 17

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Simona Popescu, ARCA PR, speaks about video journal success and traffic increase on web channels where ARCA is present. Youtube daily views have tripled since and we had also a major visitor increase on ARCA website and Facebook page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjpYe9sRIhg

Video journal entry 16

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:00:56 +0200

This is the last episode of the series dedicated to the Mission 3 launch attempt. In this clip you can see the inflated balloon before the mission was cancelled because of inflation arms entanglement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swowYWq-CLM

Video journal entry 15

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Helen rocket sollar balloon is inflated on sea surface using eleven fans onboard Venus ship. It was for the first time when such an operation was attempted on sea surface.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMzeZhIKF5Q

Video journal entry 14

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:00:56 +0200

Helen rocket stages are being fueled from transfer tanks onboard Venus ship. During this time fast boats keep the stages in position on the sea surface.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0DThTKr-oY