The first successful launch and retrieve a High Altitude Balloon in the state of Wisconsin
Launch Time and Location: Aug 11, 2003 at 0715 CST in Eau Claire, WI at the athletic fields at the UWEC campus.
Tracking: Two computers tracked the Balloon simultaneously. Balloon traveled SSW into SE Minnesota. Landed near Eytol, MN (near Rochester) Over 4 hours of tracking on highways, backroads, gravel roads, etc. Crossed into Minnesota at Wabasha, MN. Eric and I (one of my teammates) saw the Parachute Land in a farmers field.
Bursting Altitude: 106,000 feet. Higher than anyone else so far!
Retrieval: Parachute and tracking payload were retrieved from flight. The second payload was not recovered....this only carried the scientific payload (smoke bombs for sight acquistion, and beeping device).
Time of Retrieval: 1115 CST
Dr. Aileen Yingst, The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium Director followed our every move...she drove right behind us! Dr. Yingst emailed this "Firstly, congratulations on a successful launch and recovery! You are some of the best and brightest Wisconsin has to offer, and you showed that yesterday."
***Look for news stories about our project....you may see a few!***
