Hoosier Ingenuity Helps Extricate High Altitude Ballooning Pods

October 25, 2009 | Evansville, Indiana | Vetting explained

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gkissel

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gkissel says the balloon flew about 18 miles into the air before bursting. A parachute carried it safely back to Earth -- and into a tree. The local electric company brought in a bucket truck to help students recover it.

iReport —

What do you do when experimental pods, launched on a 100 mile, 2.5 hour flight via weather balloon and parachute end up in a tree?

If you're in Indiana, you exert some Hoosier ingenuity.

That's what engineering students from the University of Southern Indiana (Evansville, IN) did when their high altitude ballooning pods landed in a tree in Daviess County, IN.

A board, pvc pipe, sticks and some duct tape were brought together as a makeshift rod to bring down half the pods stuck in the oak tree.

Engineering freshman, Frank Rynkiewich, performed the extrication, while engineering sophomore Molly Sharkey video recorded the operation.

In the background can be heard a siren on one pod, which can be used to help locate the downed experiments.

The high altitude ballooning flight was on Saturday October 24, 2009.

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