Article written by Ez Biz Niz

Your Sky-Probe weather balloon system requires some set up before you can launch the balloon into the sky. With the right parts, you can collect all kinds of data about the weather and the atmosphere. Here are the basics to getting your kit up and running.

Set Up

Your high altitude balloon kit will require some setup if you want to get it off the ground. You begin by filling the balloon with your choice of gas: hydrogen or helium. You need a flat space to launch, and you need to be clear of any trees, powerlines or planes that might affect your launch. Remember, the FAA has no specific requirements regarding weather balloon launches, but you should still avoid commercial air space as often as possible.

Payload Ideas

In the USA, your payload cannot exceed 12 pounds. It’s a good idea to include a gps datalogger that you can use to record data about the trip your balloon takes. This is especially important for students running science experiments because this is the data you process. If possible, divide your payload into multiple packages, especially if you plan to mount a camera to the balloon to take shots of space.

Science Projects

So what can you do with a weather balloon? You can take video of the flight and compile it into a YouTube video to share with the class. You can calculate how long it will take a balloon to reach its maximum height depending on the gas you chose to use, or you can record data regarding the weather and approaching storms.