Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The weather looked suitable for launch on Sunday, October 6. To avoid the strongest part of the jet stream and to have a projected landing in a zone of strong cell reception, we drove south to Saratoga Springs. We assembled the time sensitive contents of the capsule in Saratoga Springs, but the launch was delayed due to a rain shower. To avoid tall cloud decks and light rain, we made a last minute decision to drive west and to launch from Amsterdam, NY. The contents of the finalized capsule were as follows: iPhone for tracking and photography, altitude sensor, temperature sensor, microcontroller, chemical hand warmers, tracking device, altoids mints, and external iPhone batteries. Exposed and unexposed polaroid film was attacked to the capsule to analyze radiation in the upper stratosphere. The contents were sealed in the styrofoam capsule with hot glue and duct tape. A note was affixed to the exterior of the capsule with our contact information in case someone else located the capsule
After the launch, we drove east to Saratoga Springs and waited out the flight time in a coffee shop. After 3 hours 22 minutes, a signal appeared on our portable tracking equipment. The iPhone had been located by cell towers just southeast of Stoddard, NH. We ran to the car and began the three hour drive west. During the drive, we received updated location information and were able to call the iPhone, confirming that it was still operation, despite its plunge from 90,000 feet and the frigid temperatures of the upper atmosphere. The software pinned the coordinates of the iPhone at 43.042184, -72.041516, about 1 1/2 miles east of the northern tip of the Robb Reservoir. Unfortunately, these coordinates are only expected to be accurate to about 1 1/2 miles due to the poor cellular reception in the area. We arrived in Stoddard at 5:30 P.M and hiked into the woods. The Robb Reservoir is surrounded by beautiful hiking trails, which made the search much more convenient. We reached the designated coordinates as the sun was setting but we were unable to locate the device in an hour of searching. Disappointed, we hiked out to the main road and returned to New York.
Now, we want your help to find the balloon! The balloon is white and is affixed to a Styrofoam capsule with dimensions approximately 12in x 4in x 5 in. Between the balloon skin and research capsule, there is a bright red parachute with a 36 in diameter that should be easily visible. We would be thrilled to reward $100 for the safe return of this capsule if anyone is able to locate it in the woods. The Robb Reservoir is surrounded by beautiful hiking trails, which pass through the area the balloon may be located within.
A map of the landing area is shown below: located the capsule If anyone is able to locate the balloon or would like more information, they should call Javier's phone at (310)795-0813. We would be extremely appreciative of any help from the people of New Hampshire!
so are these balloons reusable? Or is the reason you wanted the balloon back so you can collect data? If so, how do you usually collect it if the balloon falls half way around the world in the middle of an ocean or some really remote place?
so are these balloons reusable? Or is the reason you wanted the balloon back so you can collect data? If so, how do you usually collect it if the balloon falls half way around the world in the middle of an ocean or some really remote place?
Once the balloon pops it's not reusable. They want to find it to retrieve the data box attached to it, which is reuseable. The data is transmitted wirelessly back.
Quick Video from NWS Buffalo airport going over the process.
For those that don't know, here are some links that provide the sites/airports that launch the balloon. Most do it twice a day at 12z and 00z.
Once you click on the location it will bring you to all the latest data the balloon grabbed from above there.
While the upper levels don't change as much as the surface does it's pretty neat to see what the weather is like above 5000'. Need to in order to make a better forecast.
Would you like your own weather balloon, Cambium? It'd be quite a cool thing to have at least for myself.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It'd be quite a cool thing to have at least for myself.
