Lessons and GoalsHigh Altitude Ballooning

Each student who participates in the Summer Institute of High-Altitude Ballooning will:

• Learn the models which quantitatively describe the physical properties of Earth’s atmosphere
• Learn the basic physics involved in helium-balloon flights
• Make ground-based measurements (using electronic sensors) of
  • Temperature
  • Atmospheric pressure
  • Magnetic fields
  • Acceleration
  • GPS coordinates
• Learn to program an Arduino microcomputer and to interface it with analog and digital sensors
• Learn to operate stand-alone remote sensors as well as cameras (video and still)
• Use web-based atmospheric modeling and mapping tools to predict the path of a balloon flight
• Help to build a balloon payload box including housings for sensors and cameras
• Participate in an actual helium balloon flight including-launch, tracking, and recovery
• Analyze the pictures and data retrieved from the balloon flight to test models of the atmosphere