Coming soon FAQ's

1. What's this all about?
Space Data launches SkySite's(a communication relay device) via helium balloons.  They fly up to 100,000 feet and "loiter" for 12 to 24 hours, providing a coverage area of about 400 mile in diameter.  Their system cam be used for tracking vehicles, relaying data from remote oil or gas wells, provide text messaging or business communications in remote areas where no "land line" or cell phone service exists.

2. What happens after a SkySite is launched?
The SkySite floats up to a altitude of between 70,000 and 100,000 feet, determined by the "winds aloft" and the needed coverage area.  At altitude, the weather is of little concern, as most of "our" weather occurs from the surface to around 60,000 feet.  

On the way up to "station" and throughout the flight, the SkySite is monitored in "real time" and the wind direction and speed data are plotted, along with several flight parameters using GPS receivers and other sensors.  Depending on the needed ground coverage area and the winds(speed and direction), Space Data can control the altitude of the balloon by venting helium or dumping ballast.  This allows Space Data to "park" the balloon at the altitude where the winds aloft (usually very light) will carry the SkySite in a preferred direction.

If the balloon starts to move out of its ground coverage area, and the winds at a different altitude are more favorable (blowing in a better direction) Space Data can change the altitude by either venting helium to descend (go down) or dumping ballast to ascend (go up).  This "wind surfing" is governed by three factors, battery life, the remaining ballast/ helium charges and the coverage area.  The normal flight time is ~12-24 hours.  After any of the above 3 factors dictate that the flight is over, a replacement SkySite is launched.

The Space Data sends commands to the SkySite to detach from the balloon, where it gently falls back to earth via a parachute.  Because of the GPS tracking ability, Space Data tracks the SkySite on it's journey back to earth.  Then the SkySite does the ET trick, "IT PHONES HOME".  Well, actually it radios back  to the next SkySite over head, its exact position accurate to 5 decimal places for both longitude and latitude.  This data is then transmitted back to Space Data and then forwarded to SS Recovery Services LLC (www.skysite.com) who is the recovery contractor for Space Data.

SSRS then posts the approximate location data on its website, where qualified (see question 4 below) agents can pick on a "first come first served" basis, SOGS(SkySites On Ground) the choose to recover.  Recover a SOG and we send you a check.

3. You mean you actually pay me to use my GPS/geocaching skills?
Actually, YES!  Because of the wide ranging areas where the SkySites can land, its impractical for Space Data to recruit and hire employees all around the United States to recover SkySites.  That's where SSRS(www.skysite.com) comes in.  SSRS was convinced that geocachers would be the perfect group to take on the challenge of finding and recovering SkySites.  After all, they have the required equipment, they have honed the necessary skills required to search better than bloodhounds for caches that are hidden on purpose.  

When you recover a SOG, you must return it to a Space Data launch facility to be paid for the recovery & return.  SDC launch site are in the following city's Corsicana, TX ,  Sweetwater, TX, Piedmont, OK,  Searcy, AR  , Opelousas, LA , Wharton  TX, Deming, NM , Tucumcari, NM , Uvalde, TX  , Odessa, TX. 

All SOGS pay $60, unless other wise noted,  for Recovery and Return to a SDC launch site.

When a SOG is found by a "Third Party" (someone not connect with the program) find a SOG, they call into the 800 number on the SOG to Space Data.  Space Data then sends me that TP contact info and I post that info on the website on the Third Party page.  All TP SOGS pay $60 unless otherwise noted.

4. How do I get "Qualified" to participate in the SkySite Recovery Program?
Click the ICA/ROC NAV button to download and review both ICA (Independent Contractors Agreement) and the ROC (Rules Of Conduct). After reviewing the contract, if you wish to participate, sign and return both ICA/ROC to the address listed in the first paragraph of the ICA.  We suggest you use a traceable mailing method like USPS Certified Mail, FedEx, UPS or DHL to ensure SSRS actually receives the documents.  Documents can be lost in transit, and SSRS is not responsible for those documents not delivered to our offices.

Once SSRS has your contract in its files, you are ready to start recovering SkySites.  Visit www.skysite.com and look at the SOG Locations button on the NAV bar.  Click your State of interest and look for GREEN SOGS on that page.  If its green, then it "might" be available.  We say "might" because the are allocated on a first come basis, someone may have already requested that SOG.  Because of steps necessary to assign a SOG to someone there is a lag time to get the website updated. The process is outlined below:

5 What is the process for assigning a SOG to me for recovery?
You see that a Green SOG on a States webpage and email us a ssinfo_AT_skysite_DOT_com (remove_RED_and replace with the correct symbols) giving the Flight number and approximate location listed on the skysite.com States pages.

SkySite.com will assign on a "First Come, First Served" basis, determined by the "time stamp" on the emails in the skysite.com IN BOX. This time stamp is the only time that matters.  When you sent the email and how long it take to be delivered can effect the "in box arrival time".  Again the skysite.com email inbox time stamp is the final word as far as determining who was first.

IF you have completed the execution of the ICA/ROC and skysite.com has those on file AND you are the first to request a specific SOG, then you are notified via email and given the exact location(s) of each SkySite you select.  In most cases(as per the ICA) you have 48 hours (of exclusive access to the exact coordinates) to report back on the recovery of the skysite.  We realize that you have day jobs and may pick a SOG on a Monday and wont be able to start recovery until the weekend.  SSRS, at its soul discretion, can wave the 48 hour rules for those agents that have proven themselves reliable.

The the website is updated, showing that the SOG recovery is pending.  This does take some time to accomplish, but we update the website as fast as practical.

6. What about being the FTF SOG?
Because of the nature of the recovery process, once a SOG is recovered, there is "no second place" finding of a SOG.  IT's GONE!  So there is no race to a SOG.  We want you to be successful, so we give you exclusive access to the exact coordinates. So its not only a FTF, but OTF(Only To FIND).

7. What's planned for the future?
We are working on several different things to make the SkySite Recovery Program more fun and interesting.  We are working on some "high flyer" coins that would be the highest flying cache prize that there ever were.  Who else could claim a cache prize that went to 95,000 FEET?  No one I know!  

We are also working on a contest that would award prizes based on the highest flying SkySite SOG.  this would be truly a random contest, because anyone that recovers a SOG would be entered.  Space Data keeps records of all the SkySites flights, so that altitude record data is just sitting there waiting to be "mined".

We may even have a FTF contest one day.  We are looking at the logistics of that now.  It would be based on a "regional basis" and we would probably wait till we had SOGS in several areas.  Then we would let everyone know with a countdown, and at a specific day and time, release the exact coordinates to everyone via the website.

We are also working a some normal contests for everyone that has signed up (completed ICA/ROC).  These could be based on the number of SkySites recovered or just plain random give-away's.  We will let you know as soon as details are final on any of these items.