Title
Progression of High Altitude Balloon Science at a Community College
Start Date
29-6-2016 3:20 PM
End Date
29-6-2016 3:45 PM
Abstract
Three community college students from Rochester, MN prepared and successfully launched a high altitude balloon (HAB) with attached scientific payload in 2015 and 2016. This presentation will discuss our experience and adaptations regarding design, tracking, the scientific payload, and troubleshooting along with discussion and presentation of the data and video acquired. The role of retired engineers and HAM radio enthusiasts, who volunteered their time and expertise to help the students, will also be discussed. Key components of the scientific payload launched spring 2016 included a low-cost Geiger array to investigate secondary muon decay as a function of elevation and the relevant applications of modern physics. The projects generated excitement among the scientific faculty and students at RCTC, and the RCTC Physics and Engineering Club is planning to continue annual HAB launches.
Progression of High Altitude Balloon Science at a Community College
Three community college students from Rochester, MN prepared and successfully launched a high altitude balloon (HAB) with attached scientific payload in 2015 and 2016. This presentation will discuss our experience and adaptations regarding design, tracking, the scientific payload, and troubleshooting along with discussion and presentation of the data and video acquired. The role of retired engineers and HAM radio enthusiasts, who volunteered their time and expertise to help the students, will also be discussed. Key components of the scientific payload launched spring 2016 included a low-cost Geiger array to investigate secondary muon decay as a function of elevation and the relevant applications of modern physics. The projects generated excitement among the scientific faculty and students at RCTC, and the RCTC Physics and Engineering Club is planning to continue annual HAB launches.