" Blanchard II," will launch on Friday, May 4th at 9:00am from the Samuel S. Lewis State Park near Wrightsville, PA. This year's payload will include live amateur television, advanced tracking equipment, and scientific equipment to measure temperature and UV at altitude!!
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This site is dedicated to developing the technology, experimentation, and curriculum behind high altitude and near-space ballooning for educational purposes.
What is a Near Space Balloon?
A high-altitude or near space balloon is simply a large weather balloon with a payload attached. This payload can consist of tracking equipment, data logging equipment, photographing apparatus, or scientific experimentation. The balloon travels to approximately 95,000 feet (about 18 miles) into the atmosphere where the balloon bursts and the payload returns to Earth by parachute.
Blanchard I a Success!!
The PALCS High Altitude Near Space Balloon, Blanchard I was launched at 9:54am on June 10. It was visually located at 3:00pm perched 70 feet in a hickory tree at the Ware Boyscout Camp near the Maryland- Pennsylvania border southeast of Oxford, PA. It was retreived 3 hours later with the help of the Union Fire Company #1 out of Oxford.
Early estimates indicate Blanchard I only reached an altitude of around 20,000 feet.
The lift capacity of the balloon was purposely reduced to limit drift. The winds were unusually high that day and predictions had the payload landing in the Delaware Bay, so we elected for less altitude and a land-based recovery.
Many, many thanks
to the following individuals:
Harry Bryant - AA2WN - Search Team Leader
Wayne Wilson- WA2LET - Search Team
Ron Cohen - K3ZKO - Search Team
Dave Stepnowski - KC3AM - Search Team
John Orr - KB3MLT - Ground Support
Pete Brockman - Ground Support
Jae Heme - Public Relations
Bill Brown WB8ELK - Technical Support, advice, and many years of expertise in ballooning.
