Purdue students to launch high-altitude balloon, public invited

November 14, 2013  


Balloon Launch

The Purdue student Association of Mechanical and Electrical Technologists invites the public to a high-altitude balloon launch on Saturday (Nov. 16). An earlier test balloon reached an altitude of 75,000 feet as seen from this onboard camera. Download Photo

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue student Association of Mechanical and Electrical Technologists will launch a high-altitude balloon from the university's intramural fields at 11:30 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 16).

The public is invited to attend the launch at the fields west of Airport Road, located north of the airport and south of State Road 26. Immediately after the launch, the public can join the students as they track the balloon's flight from the Niswonger Aviation Technology Building at the airport. The students also will describe how the balloon operates.

A test launch of a similar balloon on Nov. 9 reached an altitude of 75,000 feet and traveled at speeds of 175 miles per hour before landing 230 miles away in Dublin, Ohio. Pictures from a camera onboard that flight can be seen at https://tech.purdue.edu/newsroom/high-altitude-balloon-launch

The AMET engages in a number of hands-on, educational and fun STEM-related projects including Rube Goldberg, Grand Prix, Robo-Sumo and Catapult competitions. While many AMET members are from the College of Technology, the group welcomes students from all majors.

Writer: Jim Schenke, 765-494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Sources: Davin Huston, AMET faculty adviser, dhhuston@purdue.edu

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