johnmpowell.bsky.social
@johnmpowell.bsky.social
Dad, spaceship and submarine builder, balloon flyer, violist and lover of old black and white scifi.
Being a space entrepreneur means sometimes you get to build spaceships and submarines. Sometimes it means you get to clean the office microwave...
February 1, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Being a space entrepreneur means sometimes you get to build spaceships and submarines. Sometimes it means you get to clean the office microwave...
Sensor Logs!
Full geek time! Our submarine now generates sensors logs during operations and I'm jazzed. In test #5 this week we put it to the test. It still needs tweaking, but all the data matched our handwritten results. Next step is to include the life support data.
Full geek time! Our submarine now generates sensors logs during operations and I'm jazzed. In test #5 this week we put it to the test. It still needs tweaking, but all the data matched our handwritten results. Next step is to include the life support data.
January 31, 2026 at 2:31 AM
Sensor Logs!
Full geek time! Our submarine now generates sensors logs during operations and I'm jazzed. In test #5 this week we put it to the test. It still needs tweaking, but all the data matched our handwritten results. Next step is to include the life support data.
Full geek time! Our submarine now generates sensors logs during operations and I'm jazzed. In test #5 this week we put it to the test. It still needs tweaking, but all the data matched our handwritten results. Next step is to include the life support data.
45 minutes in the water, 45 pages of data. It's amazing how much information you can get one of one test.
From the mission & checklist notes written live to the on-board data logs, post equipment tests & the seven cameras there is a lot to extract from Bellavia test 5.
From the mission & checklist notes written live to the on-board data logs, post equipment tests & the seven cameras there is a lot to extract from Bellavia test 5.
January 30, 2026 at 4:58 PM
45 minutes in the water, 45 pages of data. It's amazing how much information you can get one of one test.
From the mission & checklist notes written live to the on-board data logs, post equipment tests & the seven cameras there is a lot to extract from Bellavia test 5.
From the mission & checklist notes written live to the on-board data logs, post equipment tests & the seven cameras there is a lot to extract from Bellavia test 5.
New Video: youtu.be/L-t4qiVDvFY?...
High speed research on a budget.
What you do if you don't happen to have a SR-71 and the party poopers at the Air Force won't loan you one. 😉
Data Darts, one of the other programs we're working on.
High speed research on a budget.
What you do if you don't happen to have a SR-71 and the party poopers at the Air Force won't loan you one. 😉
Data Darts, one of the other programs we're working on.
January 29, 2026 at 11:10 PM
New Video: youtu.be/L-t4qiVDvFY?...
High speed research on a budget.
What you do if you don't happen to have a SR-71 and the party poopers at the Air Force won't loan you one. 😉
Data Darts, one of the other programs we're working on.
High speed research on a budget.
What you do if you don't happen to have a SR-71 and the party poopers at the Air Force won't loan you one. 😉
Data Darts, one of the other programs we're working on.
Waiting for launch.
Sometimes you need to sit and wait patiently for the team to do their thing. It's actually a nice 'catch your breath' moment.
Sometimes you need to sit and wait patiently for the team to do their thing. It's actually a nice 'catch your breath' moment.
January 29, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Waiting for launch.
Sometimes you need to sit and wait patiently for the team to do their thing. It's actually a nice 'catch your breath' moment.
Sometimes you need to sit and wait patiently for the team to do their thing. It's actually a nice 'catch your breath' moment.
We have three prep positions to put Bellavia in the water. Parking lot, level before ramp, and ramp. We added stopping on the level area before the ramp for pilot climb in & drop weight attachment. The ramp itself is a bit steep. Moving 1/2 the checklist to level ground made everything easier.
January 29, 2026 at 5:39 PM
We have three prep positions to put Bellavia in the water. Parking lot, level before ramp, and ramp. We added stopping on the level area before the ramp for pilot climb in & drop weight attachment. The ramp itself is a bit steep. Moving 1/2 the checklist to level ground made everything easier.
Submarine back up on the ramp undergoing shutdown after a job well done.
January 29, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Submarine back up on the ramp undergoing shutdown after a job well done.
Surface the submarine 2!
From Bellavia test 5, forward starboard side wall cam.
From Bellavia test 5, forward starboard side wall cam.
January 29, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Surface the submarine 2!
From Bellavia test 5, forward starboard side wall cam.
From Bellavia test 5, forward starboard side wall cam.
Submarine test 5 was our smoothest deployment so far. It did give us several pages to mods to make, code to change and connections to tighten, but that is the whole point. We're got high altitude operations down pretty good. Now we're starting to get a handle on crewed operations.
January 29, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Submarine test 5 was our smoothest deployment so far. It did give us several pages to mods to make, code to change and connections to tighten, but that is the whole point. We're got high altitude operations down pretty good. Now we're starting to get a handle on crewed operations.
Team Bella!
These are the folks that make it happen!
From Bellavia test 5.
These are the folks that make it happen!
From Bellavia test 5.
January 28, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Team Bella!
These are the folks that make it happen!
From Bellavia test 5.
These are the folks that make it happen!
From Bellavia test 5.
Moment of truth.
From Bellavia test 5.
From Bellavia test 5.
January 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Moment of truth.
From Bellavia test 5.
From Bellavia test 5.
Surface the boat!
From Bellavia test 5.
From Bellavia test 5.
January 28, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Surface the boat!
From Bellavia test 5.
From Bellavia test 5.
Submarine in the mist.
From the cockpit cam during yesterday's test. Bellavia is now fog qualitied.
From the cockpit cam during yesterday's test. Bellavia is now fog qualitied.
January 28, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Submarine in the mist.
From the cockpit cam during yesterday's test. Bellavia is now fog qualitied.
From the cockpit cam during yesterday's test. Bellavia is now fog qualitied.
Submarine Bellavia test 5. Success!
Team back, all safe and sound.
Team back, all safe and sound.
January 28, 2026 at 4:24 AM
Submarine Bellavia test 5. Success!
Team back, all safe and sound.
Team back, all safe and sound.
The most important thing to remember when getting ready for a complex operation: Team Snacks!
January 27, 2026 at 2:03 PM
The most important thing to remember when getting ready for a complex operation: Team Snacks!
Predeployment checklists are complete, the equipment is staged and the truck gases up. We're ready for the morning drive to the marina. This will be Submarine Bellavia water test #5. Wish us luck!
January 27, 2026 at 1:58 PM
Predeployment checklists are complete, the equipment is staged and the truck gases up. We're ready for the morning drive to the marina. This will be Submarine Bellavia water test #5. Wish us luck!
The team putting the final touches on Bellavia (our submarine) before next week's launch.
January 24, 2026 at 7:23 PM
The team putting the final touches on Bellavia (our submarine) before next week's launch.
University payloads aboard the Away 118 platform.
Fly, Fly Fly, and when you do take everybody with you.
Exploration belongs to everyone.
Fly, Fly Fly, and when you do take everybody with you.
Exploration belongs to everyone.
January 23, 2026 at 5:18 PM
University payloads aboard the Away 118 platform.
Fly, Fly Fly, and when you do take everybody with you.
Exploration belongs to everyone.
Fly, Fly Fly, and when you do take everybody with you.
Exploration belongs to everyone.
We're gearing up for Sub launch #5. A week away but still lots to do. This one will see the team of new JPA pilots getting there first time out.
January 21, 2026 at 5:52 PM
We're gearing up for Sub launch #5. A week away but still lots to do. This one will see the team of new JPA pilots getting there first time out.
Good Morning Earth!
One from the Archives. Up top aboard Away 60.
One from the Archives. Up top aboard Away 60.
January 20, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Good Morning Earth!
One from the Archives. Up top aboard Away 60.
One from the Archives. Up top aboard Away 60.
We just got a very generous donation of a new support boat for the submarine. This is an Achilles SD-124 rescue boat. It needs a little TLC then it will be ready to support submarine operations
January 20, 2026 at 5:10 PM
We just got a very generous donation of a new support boat for the submarine. This is an Achilles SD-124 rescue boat. It needs a little TLC then it will be ready to support submarine operations
Engage!
Little red wagon kicking in warp drive.
(micro plasma engine test #115)
Little red wagon kicking in warp drive.
(micro plasma engine test #115)
January 19, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Engage!
Little red wagon kicking in warp drive.
(micro plasma engine test #115)
Little red wagon kicking in warp drive.
(micro plasma engine test #115)
Some days I get to work on submarines, some day I get to work on spaceships. Today I got to work on a violin. This is my stunt violin. I found it buried and broken years ago in a thrift store. Then it needed quite a bit of patching. Today it just needed cleaning, a new bridge carved and tuning.
January 18, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Some days I get to work on submarines, some day I get to work on spaceships. Today I got to work on a violin. This is my stunt violin. I found it buried and broken years ago in a thrift store. Then it needed quite a bit of patching. Today it just needed cleaning, a new bridge carved and tuning.
The NASA Scientific Ballooning Handbook 50th Anniversary Edition is out! It's amazing, it's free and it's here: ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20...
January 18, 2026 at 5:02 PM
The NASA Scientific Ballooning Handbook 50th Anniversary Edition is out! It's amazing, it's free and it's here: ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20...
Tandem airship cruising at the edge of space.
January 17, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Tandem airship cruising at the edge of space.