SALISBURY students from Wiltshire College launch eight-meter-wide weather balloon to the edge of space for science.
Following a successful 109,000 feet flight from students at the college’s Chippenham campus last June, the Salisbury students were eager to launch one of their own.
This year’s project features an additional experiment to try to prove water will boil at 37C – the same temperature as blood – once it reaches 64,000 feet.
The team consists of Abbie Connor, Owen Chant, George Herbert, Jacob Booker, Shaun Herbet and Craig Taylor.
Level 3 student Craig Taylor, designated flight commander of the balloon, said: “We want to prove that water will boil at 37C at 64,000 feet.
“We need a wind from the south otherwise the balloon might end up in France or in the Channel.”
The helium weather balloon will carry a payload fitted with a camera, GPS tracking and other equipment onboard, including a hot plate which will regulate a flask of water at 37C. Once it reaches around 64,000 feet in height, the water should boil.
Fellow level 3 student Owen Chant added: “It’s going well so far, and it is a really fun project."
The tracking device fitted to the balloon failed mid-flight, so the students are unable to pin-point its landing location however they believe it is in woodland.
Once the balloon has been recovered we will publish an update showcasing a video of it's flight and the outcome of the research.
Mark Ghinn, lecturer in electronic engineering at the college, organised the enrichment project so students gain valuable experiences alongside their studies.
Mark said: “This project will go that bit further than the previous one. It’s a bit more challenging, there’s more for the students to think about – and there is more that can go wrong.
“We won’t get as high as the previous balloon and will probably be about 15,000 feet below that but the crucial thing is that we get to 64,000 feet.”
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were contacted and granted permission to fly alongside issuing a Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) so other aircraft were aware of the location, size and ascent time of the balloon.
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