It was another successful launch for NewMakeIt's Build Club whose weather balloon rose to the edge of the earth's atmosphere Nov. 6.
After a postponement due to the pandemic the six-year-old Newmarket club's third launch didn't set the record for highest balloon altitude as they'd hoped, but at more than 100,000 feet it was their highest yet.
Like the previous launches, "it was a learning experience," said Ryan Dibisch, NewMakeIt's executive director.
A payload carrying a camera, temperature sensors and tracking devices to conduct experiments was sent up with the balloon. As the balloon reached burst height it popped and the payload descended.
The balloon measured six feet across at launch and 38 feet across at burst altitude. Once there was enough air in the atmosphere to inflate it, a parachute opened to enable the payload to land safely and slowly.
Based on calculated wind speeds and weather conditions the team estimated a flight path and landing location in Port Hope.
The payload did actually land not too far from Port Hope but according to Dibisch, the landing was not without some difficulties.
"Our predictions were so close we were actually able to see it come down but were a little bit heartbroken when it landed on the high tension wires."
The team spoke with a local farmer and sent a drone up to get footage of the trapped payload but there was no way to get it down.
Luckily, during the night wind knocked the burst balloon loose and the farmer contacted the team to let them know. They were able to retrieve it and everything was still functional, said Dibisch.
"It did have a 150 foot drop which damaged the shell a little bit however that didn't really affect any of the cameras or items that were inside of it."
A 360-degree camera provided by launch sponsor Insta360, a camera manufacturer, was mounted to the front of the payload allowing the team to educate themselves on what changes they should make for future launches.
Originally, the group planned to involve students from Newmarket High School so they would have the opportunity to learn from the process.
A program was developed where secondary school students could actually manage the whole process from preparing the balloon and payload to coming up with experiments to send up with them.
Student experiment ideas ranged from sending up tree saplings to see how they fare at 100,000 feet, to developing a device that would make ice cream.
Just when they were about to launch the pandemic hit. The students who were involved have since graduated and none of their experiments were used in the recent launch but the group still plan to bring the program to schools in the future.
Local enthusiasts are not the only ones impressed by the successful launches; the team has gained international recognition as well.
According to Dibisch, a school in Bermuda is interested in collaborating with the team. The school carries out deep-sea dives with a remote submarine and Dibisch hopes to "pair up" a school from Newmarket with the Bermudian school so students can learn from one another's experiments.
The launch was dedicated to Build Club member Kyle Luchetti who passed away. To honour Luchetti some of his ashes were included on the payload allowing them to journey to the edge of space and back.
Based on what they learned this time around the club is looking to spring time for their fourth launch which, said Dibisch, will "definitely" involve local students.
"Were going to take what we learned from this to try and make it an even better more predictable launch than this one, although this one went off very, very well except for the mishap with the power line."
