Okay, so I got this crazy idea to track a weather balloon. I’d seen some cool videos online, and I thought, “Why not?” Here’s how it all went down.
Getting Started
First, I needed to get my hands on a weather balloon. I found some online – you know, the usual places. I also grabbed a GPS tracker. The cheap ones are kinda iffy, so I went for one that seemed a bit more reliable, with decent battery life.
The Setup
Next up, I inflated the balloon. It’s bigger than you think! Make sure you have plenty of space. I did it in my backyard, and even that felt a bit cramped. I used helium, of course – you can get tanks at party supply stores.
Then came attaching the tracker. I used a lightweight box – cardboard would be ok, but it rains sometims, so I used some plastic box and duct tape. Lots of duct tape. You want to make sure that thing isn’t going anywhere.
- Balloon: Check.
- Helium: Check.
- Tracker: Check.
- Duct tape: Double-check!
The Launch
Finding a good launch spot took a bit of thinking. You want somewhere open, away from trees and power lines. I ended up driving out to a big, empty field. I checked the weather forecast, too – you don’t want to launch this thing in a storm!
Then, with a deep breath and some crossed fingers, I let it go. Watching it float up and away was awesome!
Tracking Time
This is where the GPS tracker comes in. The one I got had an app that lets you see where the balloon is in real-time. It was amazing! The balloon go higher and faster than I think. I could see the balloon’s path on a map, and it was going pretty far!
The Landing (or, Where Did It Go?)
Now, this is the tricky part. Weather balloons eventually pop, and then your tracker comes falling back to Earth. The app gave me the last known location, so I jumped in my car and started driving.
It took some searching, but I eventually found it! It landed in another field, a few towns over. The box was a bit banged up, but the tracker was still working. Success!
All in all, it was a super fun project. If you’re looking for something a little different to do, I totally recommend giving weather balloon tracking a try. Just be prepared for a bit of an adventure – and maybe a long drive!