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August 24, 2007

Balloon Takes Pictures from over 22 Miles Above Earth

A group of guys in Canada got together and strapped a Nikon Coolpix P2 digital camera and an APRS tracking device to a big balloon and let it fly. The camera topped out at about 22.27 miles, or 117,597 feet above the Earth.

Once the balloon achieved this altitude, it popped and the payload parachuted back to earth where ground crews were waiting to snatch it up.

I can’t think this sort of thing would have flown (pun intended) in the U.S as I am sure the FAA wouldn’t appreciate a giant balloon floating around. The really impressive part was that the guys were able to get their gear back unharmed. The shots you see here were taken automatically at 1 minute intervals.

Via Gizmodo

Posted by shane at August 24, 2007 12:44 PM