Shopping List

One of the primary goals of this project was to make this happen using nothing but off-the-shelf parts. I wanted to be able to make a shopping list of everything that is required to conduct your own experiments.
Below is a list of all the parts used on the first launch of the Super Happy Fun Time Space Balloon Picture Machine Project.

Camera:

• Canon A700 link (I got mine on eBay for $30, I'd check there first)
  
• Lens protector / Filter attachment: 58mm barrel type lens adapter link (we actually used 52mm adapter and filters, but I couldn't find them again to link to them)
  
• 58mm CPL Filter link
• 4GB SD Card link
• CHDK for the intervalometer function (that cameras don't come with) link
  

GPS / Tracking Device:

• Pay as you go cellphone link we chose the i290
• $10 of prepaid minutes (7-eleven has them, so does Radio Shack, and boostmobile.com)
  
• Realtime GPS tracking software link we went with the level 2 tracking

Ascender/Descender:

• Weather Balloon: Kaymont KCI1200 link
• Parachute: 42" model rocket parachute link (we would've been just fine with a 36")
• Helium: The fellow at Kaymont said that one KCI1200 would require 291 cubic feet of helium, but we didn't even use half of the tank. link

Christopher also built a small suspension trapeze that the camera and phone were zip-tied to, but I don't know where he got the parts or how much it cost. I believe it was less than $5 worth of carbon tubes and string. The launch video has a bit of detail pertaining to the trapeze rig.