Okay, so I got this crazy idea to launch a weather balloon. I’d seen those cool videos online, and I figured, “Why not? Let’s do this in Colorado!” I live near the mountains, so it seemed like the perfect spot.
First, I gathered all the stuff I needed. This was a bit of a scavenger hunt. I got:
- A big weather balloon (obviously!).
- A parachute – gotta get the payload back safely.
- A GPS tracker – so I wouldn’t lose the whole thing.
- A small camera – to capture the amazing views.
- Some string and duct tape – because you always need duct tape.
- A box is the payload for containing those items above.
Then I put the GPS tracker and the camera inside the payload, and I made sure everything was secure. I even added some extra padding to protect the camera from bumps.
The Launch Day
Next up, the launch! I found a big, open field with no trees or power lines nearby. Safety first, people!
I filled the balloon with * part took some time, and I ended up getting my family involved to help out. Teamwork makes the dream work, right?
We attached the payload to the balloon with lots of string and, you guessed it, more duct tape. Then, with a countdown, we let it go! It soared into the sky, getting smaller and smaller until it was just a tiny speck.
I tracked the balloon’s progress on my phone using the GPS app. It went way up, way higher than I expected! The pictures it sent back were incredible – you could see the curve of the Earth! Colorado looked absolutely stunning from up there.
Eventually, the balloon popped (that’s what they do at high altitude), and the parachute deployed. I watched on the app as it slowly drifted back down.
The Recovery
The landing spot was a bit of a drive, but I found it! The payload was sitting in a field, a little banged up but mostly intact. I retrieved the camera and eagerly checked the footage. Success! It had recorded the whole flight.
It was such a fun and rewarding project. It took some planning and effort, but seeing those pictures and knowing I launched something that high into the atmosphere was totally worth it. It’s not every day you get to do something like that!