4 Spanish Teens Capture Images from Space with Homemade Balloon

[coqauvin]

Proving that you don't need Google's billions or the BBC weather centre's resources, the four Spanish students managed to send a camera-operated weather balloon into the stratosphere.

Taking atmospheric readings and photographs 20 miles above the ground, the Meteotek team of IES La Bisbal school in Catalonia completed their incredible experiment at the end of February this year.

Building the electronic sensor components from scratch, Gerard Marull Paretas, Sergi Saballs Vila, Marta* Gasull Morcillo and Jaume Puigmiquel Casamort managed to send their heavy duty £43 latex balloon to the edge of space and take readings of its ascent.

Created by the four students under the guidance of teacher Jordi Fanals Oriol, the budding scientists, all aged 18-19, followed the progress of their balloon using high tech sensors communicating with Google Earth.

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[fm2176]

Sometimes all it takes is a little ingenuity, I guess.

[dudeman]

When I clicked that, I thought this was going to be a story about rape and torture. I was disappointed.

[MrShrike]

Well that is cool and all, but 20km up is not space.

[Syme]

Yeah, pics taken in the stratosphere are not "from space". Still, props to these kids.

[coqauvin]

you're right, they were only in the upper stratosphere

but i mean good job considering their budget was like 50 pounds and they're all still in high school

[gwahir]

Yeah, pics taken in the stratosphere are not "from space". Still, props to these kids.

I'm told that "outer space" starts, by NASA's definition, about six miles up.

I'll try and source that.

[Syme]

I'm told that "outer space" starts, by NASA's definition, about six miles up.

I'll try and source that.

I think you mean sixty. The "official" definition of where space begins is at an altitude of 100,000 meters, or about 60 miles. Six miles wouldn't make much sense, since that's only 31,000 feet, which is below the cruising altitude of many commercial aircraft (let alone military aircraft).

[gwahir]

Oh man, no wonder I couldn't find a source for that.

[no_brains_no_worries]

Technically didn't the need Google's billions since they used google earth?

/dick move.

[Killuminati]

When I clicked that, I thought this was going to be a story about rape and torture. I was disappointed.

I thought it was about cartel's for a second as well. Pretty cool though, I would like to have done that in high school. Or now actually.