Teens capture images of space with £56 camera and balloon

[-AMO-]

A new hobby for the DF photography enthusiasts?

Teenagers armed with only a £56 camera and latex balloon have managed to take stunning pictures of space from 20-miles above Earth.



Proving that you don't need Google's billions or the BBC weather centre's resources, the four Spanish students managed to send a camera-operated weather balloon into the stratosphere.
Taking atmospheric readings and photographs 20 miles above the ground, the Meteotek team of IES La Bisbal school in Catalonia completed their incredible experiment at the end of February this year.

Building the electronic sensor components from scratch, Gerard Marull Paretas, Sergi Saballs Vila, Marta­ Gasull Morcillo and Jaume Puigmiquel Casamort managed to send their heavy duty £43 latex balloon to the edge of space and take readings of its ascent.

Created by the four students under the guidance of teacher Jordi Fanals Oriol, the budding scientists, all aged 18-19, followed the progress of their balloon using high tech sensors communicating with Google Earth.
Team leader Gerard Marull, 18, said: "We were overwhelmed at our results, especially the photographs, to send our handmade craft to the edge of space is incredible."

Completing their landmark experiment on February, the Meteotek team had to account for a wide variety of variables and rely on a lot of luck.
"The balloon we chose was inflated with helium to just over two metres and weighed just 1500 grams," said Gerard. "It was able to carry the sensor equipment and digital Nikon camera which weighed 1.5kg.
"However, when we launched at 9.10am on that morning the critical point for the experiment was to see if the balloon would make it past 10,000m, or 30,000ft, which is the altitude that commercial airliners fly at."

Due to the changing atmospheric pressures, the helium weather balloon carrying the meteorological equipment was expected to inflate to a maximum of nine and a half metres as it travelled upwards at 270 metres-per-minute.

"We took readings as the balloon rose and mapped its progress using Google Earth and the onboard radio receiver," said Gerard.
"At over 100,000ft the balloon lost its inflation and the equipment was returned to the earth.

"We travelled 10km to find the sensors and photographic card, which was still emitting its signal, even though it had been exposed to the most extreme conditions."

The pupils' incredible school science project has already caught the attention of the University of Wyoming in the US, and the Meteotek team keep those interested updated with regular blogs and updates to their Twitter feed.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...d-balloon.html

[B B Leo]

u gotto love latex

[rIKmAN]

It won`t be long before we breach the final frontier...

[B B Leo]

It won`t be long before we breach the final frontier...

maybe with
kevlar latex

[GTI]

I hate misleading headlines like this, 56 quid camera, 43 quid balloon, thousands of pounds worth of tracking and telemetry equipment... its hardly garden shed stuff. And which Nikon digital camera costs 56 quid???

[muttleymacclad]

...And which Nikon digital camera costs 56 quid???

sorry gti, couldn't resist...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nikon-Coolpix-...|39:1|240:1318

Nikon coolpix 4300 £46.01

[jamie_h88]

Pictures of the launch

[Over Carl]

I hate misleading headlines like this, 56 quid camera, 43 quid balloon, thousands of pounds worth of tracking and telemetry equipment... its hardly garden shed stuff. And which Nikon digital camera costs 56 quid???

Nail on head. I was hoping it would be something I could make for a ton or less for a laugh.

[Soulassassin]

Its like an astonaut on a space shuttle taking a picture with his £4.99 disposable kodak and saying 'Man gets close up spacestation pics for under a fiver'

[kracken]

Scenes from 30,000 meters above

Their helium-filled balloon carried a payload of electronics and a camera to take atmospheric measurements and photographs throughout the trip. After getting permission from aviation officials and getting good weather, they released the probe on a trip that took it over 30,000 meters (19 miles) above sea level, through winds gusting up to 100 kph, and temperatures reaching -54C (-65.2F), and traveling 38 kilometers overland in a time of 2 hours and 10 minutes.



The Meteotek08 probe launches from the town of Bujaraloz, in northeastern Spain on February 28, 2009. (Meteotek08 Team)






Preparing the camera, a Nikon Coolpix L10, for the flight and automated picture-taking. (Meteotek08 Team)





Preparing the base, built to hold and protect the camera and electronics from harsh conditions in the upper atmosphere. (Meteotek08 Team)





A look insde the probe in-progress, showing the components installed to-date. (Meteotek08 Team)





The Nikon camera, now wrapped in a lightweight protective foam shell. (Meteotek08 Team)





Very early on the morning of launch, readying the receiving stations which will track the progress and status of the probe. (Meteotek08 Team)





Last-minute adjustments made to cords on the probe right before launch. (Meteotek08 Team)





Inflating the latex balloon with helium, the longest part of the launch preparation, using 75% of the helium from the container at right. (Meteotek08 Team)





Launch! At 9:10 am on February 28th, the probe was released, floating upward at a rate of 270 meters every minute. (Meteotek08 Team)





One of the first photos from the flight, of farmland in the town of Bujaraloz, Spain. (Meteotek08 Team)





A shot of the balloon from the probe itself. (Meteotek08 Team)





Looking across the landscape of northeastern Spain. (Meteotek08 Team)





A straight-down angle. Horizontal speeds climbed up to a maximum of 100 kilometers per hour in the upper atmosphere, swinging the probe platform all around. (Meteotek08 Team)





More farmland and hills, the balloon is about to climb above the cloud layer. (Meteotek08 Team)





The ground team stops briefly to adjust their antenna as they pursue the probe. At one point they were briefly stopped by local police, who took an interest in the antenna setup, but then were allowed to continue quickly. (Meteotek08 Team)





Above the clouds (Meteotek08 Team)





Sunshine on cloudtops (Meteotek08 Team)





The upper part of the sky is looking blacker now. (Meteotek08 Team)





An even, horizontal view of clouds stretching to the horizon. (Meteotek08 Team)





Higher, and darker, still. (Meteotek08 Team)





After reaching a height of 30,677 meters (over 19 miles), the balloon burst, and the probe begins its descent. (Meteotek08 Team)





A cord trails behind the probe as it descends through the clouds once again. (Meteotek08 Team)





Over 35 kilometers from its launch point, the probe sight land once more. (Meteotek08 Team)





Contrails, clouds and fog. (Meteotek08 Team)





The ground is getting closer, snowcapped mountains in the distance. (Meteotek08 Team)





Nearly there. (Meteotek08 Team)





The probe, as it was discovered by the team, right next to a path. They quickly removed the camera's SD card to discover the photos above. (Meteotek08 Team)





The whole Meteotek08 team with their probe, from left, teacher Jordi Fanals and students Gerard Marull, Martí Gasull, Jaume Puigmiquel and Sergi Saballs. (Meteotek08 Team)

Great photos indeed