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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 |   |
jpaerospace has been doing this kind of thing for a while too.
they use balloons although lift larger structures and they have posted their videos on youtube for years. they also support their missions by ads in front of the camera taking photos in space.
http://www.jpaerospace.com/pongsat/away25.html
They are also building a giant airship to lift people to the edge of space. (I’m surprised they don’t get more attention.)
Although I think you were a lot cheaper and got just as good if not better photos.
Great job.
http://www.jpaerospace.com/
cool!
I think you guys are awesome. Goes to show you what thinking outside the box can get you.
As for the comment from JustAHint about styrofoam being being less than dangerous… it’s not how big but how fast it is going. The chunk of foam that hit the leading edge of the wing of the shuttle Columbia was the size of a briefcase(going 500 mph) and look what happened. And I’ve seen the result of styrofoam containers flying out of truck beds, it will break a windshield.
ive seen so many idiot comments on this site and i gotta reply now. ppl asking questions which the answers are posted on another page… etc..
sure a foam cooler at 500mph would hurt.
if there wasn’t a parachute what do you think the terminal velocity would be for this cooler?!? jeezus F Christ. its got a lot of drag by itself. and to fall about 19 miles in 40 minutes is a downward speed of about 28 miles.
don’t post comments when you are so stupid.
Wow this is amazing! You guys are very smart to think of this and you all deserve some high paying jobs at NASA!!
Amazing work guys! You’re an insperation to us all. Can’t wait until the instructions are posted!
Are there any more projects like this coming? I’d love to see more from you guys. If you could do this, what other amazing things are you capable of?
I highly appreciate this achievement of yours guys. You really have proven that yourselves..
you are the best one all of the world
Wonderful~ …and I think to myself*sigh* what a wonderful woooooooorrrrrrrlllld
People resent you smug, uber-geeks with your long, interesting careers ahead of you, whilst others toil in mundane occupations and will never get interviewed on NOVA. Just kidding! Sort of.
What kinda beer box did you all use? Hopefully a budlight one!!!
J/K this is pretty cool. Good job fellows.
interesting…i actually wanna do this with my little students! haha
Outstanding idea and execution! Wish you both nothing but success in your careers and life.
A video would be really cool. You could use something like an older flip video (takes about an hour’s worth of video). Rig it to a timer to turn the camera on after about three and a half hours.
congratulations
Z
WOW!
That was the coolest thing ever!
Absolutely fantastic
Awesome! I’m going to wait for the step-by-step guide
Nice job! Congratulation!
))) like the good old Masters: think, plan, create, discover. YOU are the new science! The new pioneers!
downward speed of 28 miles??? 28 miles is a distance, not a speed.
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none.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:00 am · Reply
ive seen so many idiot comments on this site and i gotta reply now. ppl asking questions which the answers are posted on another page… etc..
sure a foam cooler at 500mph would hurt.
if there wasn’t a parachute what do you think the terminal velocity would be for this cooler?!? jeezus F Christ. its got a lot of drag by itself. and to fall about 19 miles in 40 minutes is a downward speed of about 28 miles.
don’t post comments when you are so stupid.