Okay, so I’ve always been fascinated by space and the idea of seeing the Earth from a really, really high vantage point. I decided to try sending a balloon up to the edge of space – a high-altitude balloon project! Here’s how it all went down.
Getting Started
First, I did a ton of reading. Seriously, a lot. I needed to figure out what kind of balloon to use, what kind of payload (that’s the stuff you send up with it), and all the legal stuff with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration,they take these things seriously!).
I opted for a latex weather balloon, the kind meteorologists use. These things can expand to a huge size as they rise and the air pressure drops.
The Payload
This was the fun part! I wanted to get pictures, of course, so I got a couple of action cameras. I rigged them up inside a Styrofoam cooler – cheap and good insulation against the extreme cold at high altitude. I also added:
- A GPS tracker. Gotta get the payload back, right?
- A small flight computer. This thing recorded altitude, temperature, and air pressure.
- Hand warmers! I taped these around the cameras and batteries to keep them from freezing.
The Launch
I found a big, open field, far away from any airports. I filled the balloon with helium, which took a while, and I needed a friend to help hold it down – it was seriously strong! I double-checked all the connections, made sure the cameras were rolling, and the GPS was on.
Then, the moment of truth! I let go. It was amazing to watch it rise, getting smaller and smaller. It disappeared into the clouds pretty quickly.
Tracking and Recovery
Now it was all about waiting and watching the GPS tracker on my phone. The balloon went way up, higher than I even expected! The data showed it reached over 100,000 feet – that’s like three times higher than a commercial airplane flies!
Eventually, the balloon burst (that’s what’s supposed to happen), and the payload started falling. The parachute I packed slowed it down, and the GPS led me right to it. It landed in a field about 50 miles from where I launched it.
The Results!
I grabed the payload and reviewed the footages.
I got some incredible pictures! I could see the curvature of the Earth, the thin blue line of the atmosphere, and the blackness of space. It was absolutely breathtaking. The data from the flight computer was cool, too. I could see exactly how high it went and how cold it got up there.
This whole project was a blast. It took a lot of planning and work, but it was totally worth it. If you’re into science and a bit of adventure, I highly recommend giving it a try!