High Altitude Balloon Burst Sequence

October 25, 2009 | 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.

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These photos show the burst sequence for a helium filled high altitude balloon at 90000 feet. Notice the "cloud" of helium left behind after the latex of the balloon shreds.

Engineering students at the University of Southern Indiana (in Evansville, IN) launched this weather balloon on Saturday October 24, 2009 from the Mt. Vernon, IL Airport.

Sensors, cameras and experimental devices, including a deployment mechanism, were carried on a string of pods beneath the balloon.

As the balloon and its payload ascended through the atmosphere, air pressure dropped, allowing the balloon to expand and eventually burst.

After burst, the pods began their chaotic descent downward, but were eventually slowed by a parachute as the air thickened.

The pods landed in a tree next to West Boggs Lake in Daviess County, IN where they were retrieved by the students.

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