amateur balloon reaches 96305 feet - takes pictures

[webby]

K2GXT (RIT amateur radio club) launched their first amateur radio high altitude balloon with a GoPro HD Hero camera and a custom designed and hand built payload. Members designed and built electronic sensing, command and control, and tracking electronics/software that worked flawlessly through its entire flight, reaching a maximum recorded height of 96305 feet (18.24 miles). The design goals include the ability to add additional features easily through a modular stacking design. Our goal was to not only gather photos but to prove a reliable and reusable payload system to serve as a base for future goals. Launched on May 7th, 2011 at 10:51 am from the RIT campus during the 4th annual Imagine RIT festival.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/62621941@N02/sets/72157626674875178/
entire picture set

 

[KennyGS]

Love it! So very cool!

 

[wanga]

Those are some pretty amazing pics, good find webbylicious

 

[webby]

why thanks... I think it looks so crazy when it's so black above the earth like that. Makes me want to launch a balloon

 

[KennyGS]

In the vacuum of space... no one can hear you scream.

 

[dentrecords]

I wonder how far it landed from the original take off point.

 

[iluvmycsx]

very cool

 

[webby]

almost 4 hour flight and landed 70 feet in a tree in Clifton Springs, NY.

looks like 34 miles away