One cool thing that I got to do was launch a weather balloon so they could collect data on the weather in the upper-atmosphere. They used instruments to collect data on humidity, air pressure, temperature, wind direction, and more. The information was sent via wire antenna to a computer where it is monitored. It started out 8-feet tall and was filled with helium. Tim Miller, a NASA contractor, showed us the balloon and told us that as the balloon went higher, it would expand to a size larger than a normal house!
First we went to the lab where we watched the data on the computer monitors. Then we learned about the “radiosonde,” or the weather box that hangs below the balloon and contains the instruments. The box was made from Styrofoam and very light. We saw results from this morning's launch so we saw real measurements and what it looked like. Then we all autographed the weather box and took it to the field house.
Tim Miller, a NASA contractor, showed us the balloon and told us that as the balloon went higher, it would expand to a size larger than a normal house! |
Next we went to the field house where the balloon was hooked up to the helium and filled. When the balloon was full, it started to rise up. This rising automatically shut off, because it was hooked to a weight connected to the "turn off" handle. The weight was lifted which caused it to atomically shut off. Once it shut off, it was the perfect size, and it was huge. Then we connected the weather box, and we were clear for take off.
Once it was time to "take off,” I got to take the balloon out of the hanger and launch it. It was connected to the weather box, so all I had to do was let go and off it went. It went up very fast and very high. We couldn’t see it very well, but it was visible for a while. It was fun to launch it, because I have never done something like that. It was something fun and new to me. It just left so quickly, and it was a nice fun feeling. For all of us Argonauts, it was our first balloon launch.
After the launch, we went to see the weather readings. We were short so we took a little peek.
Overall the launch was fun and exciting, because it was the only time I got to touch a real weather balloon. I still can’t believe I really got to launch a weather balloon, and it was the best launch I have ever done. The JASON Project let me do things I have never done before or will never get to do again.