The Pella Amateur Radio Club is trying again to fly a balloon around the world, this time with the help of Pella Christian High School students.
This time, they flew for the physics class, taught by Mr. Beekhuizen. The balloon contains a GPS receiver and amateur radio transmitter, which enables the students to track their balloon anywhere it goes on earth. The launch and flight was “perfect” today, said Jim Emmert with the group.
“Since the payload is powered by solar panels, it powered down as it was crossing Huntsville, Illinois,” he says.
At that time, the balloon was traveling at 35 mph at an altitude of 28,800 feet.
“Predictions indicate that it should wake up in the morning near the Atlantic coast of North Carolina,” he adds. “This should happen between 8:00 and 8:30 tomorrow morning CST.”
The Pella Amateur Radio Club held a similar activity for the Jefferson Intermediate 5th grade science class last week and its peak, that balloon traveled at 35,000 feet at 175 mph. When it powered down for the night, the group never heard from it again. Emmert predicted that it ended up in the Atlantic Ocean.
Emmert and Mike Morgan from the Pella Amateur Radio Club hope this flight will survive the Atlantic Ocean, and if it does, the jet stream should carry it into Europe by crossing over Spain.
Those who would like to follow the balloon on a smart phone or computer, go to the following URL:
https://aprs.fi/#!call=a%2FWB0URW-3&timerange=86400&tail=86400
