The 2007 Central Plains Severe Weather Symposium will be held in Lincoln at Hardin Hall on the UNL east campus on Saturday, March 24th starting at 9am. More on the symposium, including an agenda, at http://cpsws. unl.edu .

NSTAR and CNNSP are planning a double balloon launch around 10:25am from the symposium site if the weather holds up. Currently there is about a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms for Saturday, but I'm hoping they will hold off until afternoon. APRS tracking at the symposium will be provided by the Lincoln ARC, which will have a classroom setup at the symposium. NSTAR/CNNSP will also have a table with a photo/video presentation running continuously during the symposium.

Callsign for the NSTAR balloon will be N9XTN-11 on 144.34 and N9XTN-12 on 144.39. A simplex repeater is planned for 446.30 MHz. The recording time is only 30 seconds, and allow plenty of time between transmissions for other stations to "upload" their traffic.

If it is raining or is too windy, the launch will be cancelled. Also, if the projected landing site is unsuitable we may have to move the launch site away from Lincoln so the landing is in a safe area. We don't want to land in the Missouri River or the Omaha metro. The latest status can be found at http://groups. yahoo.com/ messages/ KNSP .

We can use a few interested hams for the launch process. This will begin around 9:30 am. We will probably set up in the courtyard north of Hardin Hall. Mainly you would be holding lines and helping to steady the balloon while it's being filled - it's pretty easy. If you would like to help, let me know off-list, or just introduce yourself at the launch site (we'll be the guys with the helium tanks).

If you have questions just send me an e-mail, and hope to see some of you in Lincoln on Saturday.

73 de Mark N9XTN