Stevens Point, WI.  On Sunday, November 15, cadets of the Stevens Point Composite Squadron successfully launched “Project Hyperion,” their version of a near-space balloon designed to take photographs of the earth’s stratosphere.

The launch took place at 1:35 pm at Cadott, Wisconsin.  Within ten minutes, the balloon had reached an altitude of 9300 feet MSL.  The position was tracked using a GPS-enabled Blackberry® mobile phone, on loan from the mother of project leader C/1Lt Mark Flage. 

The balloon went out of cell phone range until 4:35 pm, and landed at 4:42 pm, having traveled approximately 145 miles across the state to the east.  InstaMapper, a free real-time GPS mapping program, was used to monitor the position of Hyperion.

An on-board Canon Powershot camera was programmed to take a digital photograph every five seconds.  The camera was blanketed with chemical hand-warmers to protect it from the extreme cold temperatures at high altitude.

The idea for project Hyperion originated from Project Icarus, initiated by a group of MIT students who want to share the artistic aspects of science with others.  On September 2, 2009, they launched their weather balloon, and their digital camera documented a five hour flight that reached 93,000 feet (17.5 miles).  It was recovered 20 miles from the launch site.

Project Icarus is spurring many similar launches across the country.   This was the first successful launch of this type in Wisconsin.

While high altitude balloon photography is not new, this type of launch is unique in terms of its low cost, and ease of assembly.  Easily accessible materials were used, including a styrofoam cooler, duct tape, and parachute cord.  The total cost of the project was about $150.  The most expensive item was the weather balloon, purchased for $60. 

The balloon is designed to expand and eventually burst, sending its payload back to earth by means of a small parachute.

 Cadets contacted Minneapolis Center several days prior to launch to make sure they would not interfere with controlled airspace. They learned that Federal Aviation Regulations do not apply to balloons with payloads less than four pounds.  The Hyperion payload was two pounds.

Participating in the launch were C/1Lt Mark Flage, C/MSgt Joel Flage, C/SMSgt Tom Flage, C/AB Daniel Flage, and C/MSgt Alex Menningen.  On hand to witness the launch were Squadron Commander Maj. Virginia Suarino, and Deputy Commander 1Lt. Terese Barta.

The distance and declining daylight prevented recovery of the payload the same day, but recovery efforts will be underway by Monday morning.  More details will follow if successful images are recovered from the payload.

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