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How to Design High Altitude Balloons

Many hobbyists enjoy gathering information of our earths' atmosphere through launching high-altitude balloons, and few photographs are more beautiful than those that capture the earth's curvature and layers of atmosphere with the black background of space. Launching the balloon and camera are the easy part. While a balloon may stay aloft for 5 hours, it will travel long distances on wind currents that could go any direction, so tracking them during flight and finding them after they land will be the challenge. For that, you need some ingenuity and a basic knowledge of FCC regulations.

Things You'll Need

Latex Weather Balloon
Twist Ties
Helium
Styrofoam Box
Teflon Tape
Camera
GPS Unit
Parachute
Cord
Laptop
GPS Tracking Software
Antenna

Instructions

- 1
  Load GPS tracking software onto the laptop. Test its functionality by taking the GPS unit for a drive.
- 2
  Test the camera to be sure it has the ability to take multiple shots. Install brand-camera friendly software if it doesn't, such as CHDK (Canon Hack Development Kit) on a Canon. Charge your camera and GPS batteries. Install a clean SD memory card with at least 1GB of memory.
- 3
  Cut a hole in the Styrofoam box that is the same size as the diameter of your camera lens. Set a simple point-and-shoot camera to long distance settings. Turn off anything that will unnecessarily drain you battery, like the flash and LED screen. Set the shutter to automatically take pictures every 15 seconds. Place the camera into the Styrofoam box with the lens exposed. Add the GPS unit. Secure both so they do not shift. Seal the Styrofoam box shut with Teflon tape.
- 4
  Drive your equipment and supplies to a launch location that is far from any airports and clear of power lines, such as an open field in the country. Secure the Styrofoam box to the parachute using the cord. Inflate the balloon with helium. Close the balloon with several strong twist ties. Attach the parachute to the balloon base with cord or twist ties.
- 5
  Launch your balloon and track it using the GPS software on your laptop and the antennae. Retrieve your camera and GPS unit once the balloon breaks and the parachute brings your equipment back to earth.

Astronomy