Possum 13

2021-2022 ushered in a new activity for our team!

Yesterday we conducted a successful inaugural High Altitude Balloon launch!

The High Altitude Balloon consists of a helium filled weather balloon carrying small experiments, cameras, and GPS trackers. A balloon can typically ascend to approximately 100,000 feet, where it bursts, after which the pods begin a descent earthward eventually slowed by a parachute for landing.

We partnered with International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, Arches Academy, and STARBASE Indiana to coordinate and prepare the science and logistics for this launch and balloon flight.

Students prepared the experiments as part of classroom activities. The Starbase Indiana team supported flight operations. Yesterday P13 Chair, Starr Schroeder RN, and Starbase Director, Tom Foltz, launched the balloon and experiments from a park in Pennsylvania, then tracked them using GPS signals during a multi-hour track into rural Pennsylvania. Students watched the live stream from their classrooms and anxiously await recovery of their experiments for eventual analysis!

More details soon!!

Image 1: Starr and Tom just before releasing the high altitude balloon to the sky.

Image 2: Moments before launch, the team prepares all the equipment and experiments.

Image 3: All inventory and prep is taking place nearby the launch site to ensure a successful effort.

Image 4: Tom & Starr signal a “thumbs up” for a successful launch just before tracking begins.

We are proud to announce that in partnership with BCIL, we are launching a citizen science project:

𝙎𝙤𝙞𝙡 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙉𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙚 𝙄𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚
�Why is this particular project important?
�Every person deserves healthy air, access to clean water, and the ability to grow food. Unfortunately, it is not the case for everyone due to climate change and redlining (i.e. discriminatory practice where access and opportunities are withheld from individuals who reside in neighborhoods classified as "undesirable.")�
Our project is a longitudinal study to analyze the impact of climate change by taking atmospheric, soil, and nematode data and location for students, educators, and social justice warriors. All individuals participating in our project will have access to the data to innovate new technologies to improve soil quality, better adapt or slow climate change, and spotlight purposeful injustice to a local official and make positive change.

Email Dr. Gonzalez at [email protected] if you are interested in participating. 💫

Thank you & Dr. Aidyl Gonzalez-Serricchio!
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