What is the Global Space Challenge?
The Iron Wolverines were the first robotics team to attempt the Global Space Balloon Challenge, which was to capture the best pictures and best data from weather patterns. After the balloon is launched, the team must find where it lands and gather the data that was collected.
Our First Attempt: The team arrived at Woodland High School at 6:30 and unloaded the helium tank and other materials. The team had to come together to blow up the balloon, as well as to make decisions about tracking the balloon. The team used a website called spotgps.com to assist them in tracking the balloon. The balloon eventually crossed Lake Moultrie and landed in a field in Salters. The team drove there to retrieve it, and after searching for an hour and a half, the balloon was found. Our Second Attempt: The team decided to launch the balloon after school on an early release day. At the beginning the balloon only floated up about five inches, so someone came up with the idea to add a second balloon. The balloon then launched and it worked, the two balloons constantly bumped into each other while flying. The forecast patterns suggested that the balloons may have ended up flying over the Atlantic Ocean. The forecast patterns were correct, the balloons were lost and right now we known that we may never find the payload again. However, from this experience we have learned so much more about launching space balloons. |
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