DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> space balloon - and a very cool dad
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 11 of 11, (reverse)
AuthorThread
10/13/2010 04:18:50 PM · #1
The son asks impossible questions, the dad tries to answer.
This led to them sending a video camera carried by helium balloon up to 100,000ft into space.
Both very cool, and some great (video) photographic images from space.

//www.brooklynspaceprogram.org/BSP/Space_Balloon.html
10/13/2010 04:24:19 PM · #2
//www.brooklynspaceprogram.org/BSP/Space_Balloon.html
Made clickable link -- I do think I've seen something (here or at NASA) about this before ...
10/13/2010 06:46:57 PM · #3
This was a great example of ingenuity. I saw a site about that about six months ago.
10/13/2010 07:07:58 PM · #4
That's amazing! Thanks for sharing.
10/13/2010 07:08:17 PM · #5
By the way, that's what happens to human body at that altitude if we don't wear pressure-suit... we explode :P
10/14/2010 01:40:29 AM · #6
A group of MIT students did something similar a few years ago. They took still pics and used a foam beer cooler.

In the U.S. if your payload weighs less than 4lb, you don't need permission or a license from the FAA. Though it is a good idea to let them know and file a "Notice to Airmen" (at least I think that's what it's called)
10/14/2010 07:17:21 AM · #7
Originally posted by Spork99:

A group of MIT students did something similar a few years ago. They took still pics and used a foam beer cooler.

In the U.S. if your payload weighs less than 4lb, you don't need permission or a license from the FAA. Though it is a good idea to let them know and file a "Notice to Airmen" (at least I think that's what it's called)


I'm surprised the FAA didn't come down on them hard so this doesn't become a common incidence. These balloons aren't controllable in flight, they can land anywhere the wind takes them. Does your insurance cover this?
10/14/2010 10:06:57 AM · #8
The amazing part is how easily the average Joe can obtain the assets to achieve such a goal. Granted there was probably over a grand worth of equipment on that balloon, but it was all retrieved safely and able to be reused.

The same mission would have cost NASA millions only a decade or so ago.
10/14/2010 10:50:01 AM · #9
*Wondering if a couple of large model rocket motors could get it up to escape velocity after the balloon bursts.*

Either way, we should have a "Put a camera in space" challenge perhaps with a 6 month deadline.
10/14/2010 11:10:52 AM · #10
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

*Wondering if a couple of large model rocket motors could get it up to escape velocity after the balloon bursts.*


haha, I'm wondering what it would take to get the camera to 11.2 km/s (escape velocity from earth)... And then again, how to retrieve those images :-)
10/14/2010 11:12:52 AM · #11
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

*Wondering if a couple of large model rocket motors could get it up to escape velocity after the balloon bursts.*

The escape velocity at the Earth's surface is 11.2km/s - That's based on the earth's radius of 6,378km

The balloon went to a height of 19 miles, which is 30km. This gives us a new 'radius' figure of 6,378km + 30km = 6,408km Plugging that into the equation gives an escape velocity of 11.15km/s

So a negligible change.

ETA: It's not exactly rocket science. har har har.

Message edited by author 2010-10-14 11:17:06.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 08/22/2025 09:44:06 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/22/2025 09:44:06 AM EDT.