BLIMP

The Balloon Live Instrumentation Monitoring Platform

BLIMP, AKA the Balloon Live Instrumentation Monitoring Platform, is a custom-built software solution designed for Conner Prairie’s 1859 Balloon Voyage. It provides real-time, remote monitoring of critical flight instrumentation—ensuring that vital safety and performance data is accessible offsite during every launch.

BLIMP is a custom-built software solution designed for Conner Prairie’s 1859 Balloon Voyage. It provides real-time, remote monitoring of critical flight instrumentation—ensuring vital safety and performance data is accessible offsite during every launch.

This project is currently under development.

Overview

BLIMP was built to make balloon operations safer, smarter, and more transparent. It continuously tracks and reports key telemetry data from the flight computer, including:

  • Pressure
  • Wind Speed
  • Lift
  • Internal & External Temperature
  • Voltage
  • Battery Status

The platform is composed of three main components:

  1. DATA_UPLOADER – A lightweight client that routinely transmits telemetry via API from onboard computers or mirrored software.
  2. WORKER – The server layer that handles all incoming requests and API calls.
  3. WEB – A responsive dashboard for live and historical data visualization.

Key Features

  • Real-Time Monitoring – Live telemetry streamed directly from the flight system to a secure web interface.
  • Historical Data Visualization – Access past flight sessions with clear, interactive graphs for temperature, wind, lift, and more.
  • Notifications & Alerts – Automated warnings for unsafe or abnormal readings to assist in safety decisions.
  • Authentication & Security – User-protected access ensures flight data integrity and confidentiality.

Technology Stack

  • Frontend: Next.js (React) – Hosted on Cloudflare Pages for fast, global performance.
  • Backend: Cloudflare Workers – Serverless compute handling POST uploads and GET queries efficiently.
  • Database: Cloudflare D1 – A serverless SQLite solution for low-latency data storage and scalability.

This architecture minimizes on-site hardware needs—requiring only a flight computer with internet access—while maintaining scalability and reliability.

Long-Term Vision

BLIMP was developed not just as a monitoring tool, but as an investment in the future of balloon operations:

  • Redundant, offsite monitoring for increased flight safety.
  • Simplified data access for ground crew and operations staff.
  • Long-term data preservation to benefit future balloon envelopes, including Sophie and her successors.

License & Ownership

Ownership of all code and software remains with Erin Ballinger, withConner Prairie receiving lifetime access to the deployed system upon full payment. Source code access is included should future self-hosting be required.

© 2025 Erin Ballinger — All Rights Reserved.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Conner Prairie and Chris Greiling for championing innovation in balloon safety and monitoring technology.