Into Thin Air

Last year a few of us got inspired to launch some experimental high-altitude balloons. There are several groups around the country doing this kind of thing (see links below) but we could not find any in our area, the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York. So we started collecting materials to start our own group. A lot of things go into such flights: balloons, helium, batteries, electronics and radio equipment, and lots of planning and hard work!

Pierre Thomson KA2QPG
Principal mad scientist

Follow these links for reports of our balloon flights:

ITA-1 - February 8, 2000 - QRPp transmitter test
ITA-2 - March 19, 2000 - high altitude thermal test
ITA-3 - June 4, 2000 - improvements, pressure sensor
ITA-4 - September 17, 2000 - 2 beacons, recovery SUCCESSFUL! (article in QST April 2001)
ITA-5 - November 16, 2000 - second flight of payload from ITA-4 with school class
Future Flights in 2001 will be made with the HamBONE organization.