The GPS cell phone we used to track the location of our vehicle lost reception soon after launch (at an elevation of ~2500 feet). Although we had expected to lose contact with the balloon, the altitude of “last-report” was much lower than expected.
After loss of electronic contact, we could continued to track the capsule visually for about half an hour until the glare of the sun prevented further viewing.
GPS information recorded in the flight logs reported a maximum altitude of 19,853 feet due to software limitations. With some simple approximations (linear extrapolation of velocity – a fair assumption justified after looking through flight trajectories of similar balloons), we estimated that our balloon achieved an altitude of about 93000 feet before returning to the earth. The balloon’s ascent took about 4 hours, and its descent took 40 minutes.
 Earth from 93000 feet. Long Island in the background.
|  Glowing from the sun
|
 Our balloon popped at around 93000 feet, beginning its 40 minute descent
|  The falling balloon
|
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Not bad for an AUTOBOT, maybe you should consider Decepticon technology and dispatch Laserbeak…
Gratulation aus der Schweiz,das war super.
Please can someone tell or how they got a picture of the falling baloon and the baloon popping in space. sandeep india
guys gratulation from Hungary
guys congratulation from Hungary, it was a great idea !!!
hát ez kurvajó skacok
basszus öregem
én is mindig reptetni akartam
a paprsárkányomat az ürbe
meg amiko kicsi voltam a lufikról aszittem hogy eljutnak a holdra
de mosmá sejtem hogy kilukadnak
de ti srácok nagyokvotatok
gratuálok
congratulations
it was a very nice achievement
we are all happy and dancing around the campfire
shooting in the air ant lifting our hands in blessing
Nem értem…A lezuhanó ballon darabot, amiben a mobil volt, azt mi, vagy ki fotózta le?I do not understand … the falling pieces of balloon, which was mobilephone, it is what or who you photographed?
gratz
Is it secure? Are you sure this can not kill someone in the ground?
If styrofoam can kill, let me know.
I bow down to your ub3r l33t nerdness.
[...] Magnifique bricolage. Ici, les photos résultantes. [...]
Great job!!!
Congratulations from Brazil!!!!
Cool! Great idea!
What are you next planned steps into space?
Gratulation from Switzerland!
Patrick
Nice job guys!
I love the “can do it!” attitude of the whole project. No lengthy review process, check the rules, be safe but ask for forgiveness instead of permission. (not near an airport, I doubt jet engines would like the balloon much) It’s what NASA did with the Mars rovers and should do again with a moon shot.
The photos are great!
Please show more images! Want to see ascent progressions (photos every 5 seconds right?)
And yes, we want to know who or what took the pic of balloon failure and descent.
Most likely the pictures of balloon popping and descent were taken by satellite.
That’s hilarious
My belief in simplicity and the human imagination has been restored. You guys did it. A simple problem in need of a simple solution. Congratulations, and kudos for MIT my first university choice.
Sure hope you guys capture some alien activity, imagine that.
I personaly feel these sort of things should only be attempted by our loving and benevolent federal government. I love the government so much and it can do no wrong, ever.
Dude, you need to come back to reality.
Inspirational DIY science. Rock on!
congratulations! from Fiji islands