Balloon Project


Background Information on Balloon project

I started working on this project in June of 2007. I have had this idea for 20 years but one day I was reading my Nuts and Volts magazine and they had an articile about near space. This what started me on this project.

First test flight.

First test and pictures of the guts of the unit.

First Launch March 1st 2009 from Kewanee Illinois.

I finally launched my balloon on March 1st 2009 from Kewanee Illinois. Check out the pictures.

Test flight at Somerset Beach Camp Grounds.

Pictures from Somerset Beach Camp Grounds. We went there to test the electronics.

GPSL Web Site.

I am heading to the Great Planes Space Launch in July. Hopfully when I get back I will have lots of pictures. There will be at least 10 other groups launching their balloons like mine. Here is a link to the GPSL in July.

  • GPSL Web Address: http://superlaunch.org/

    GPSL Launch July 24th 2010 from Hutchinson KS Airport.

  • I launched my balloon on July 24th from Hutchinson KS.
  • It was a clear day and not to windy.
  • The flight went very well we where in contact with the balloon most of the flight and where able to track it.
  • We did lose contact with the balloon till about 3000 meters above the ground.
  • We where able to ping it with a GPS tracker.
  • We found it in a feild about 1/2 hour after it landed.
  • The release system went off before it left the groud so I was able to bypass it.
  • The video cameras worked great exept the rudder we used to stabize the box mad it worse.
  • So we got a lot of spinning.
  • The still cameras worked for a while but stopped working.
  • But all in all it was a great flight.

  • Link to GPSL balloon flight still pictures.
  • Link to GPSL balloon flight videos.
  • Link to GPSL balloon flight track.
  • Link to GPSL balloon flight data.

    Contact Information.

  • Email Address: glenngram@drydeneng.com
  • Web Address: http://www.drydeneng.com/balloon
  • Phone number: (734)944-5105.


    Last Revised: 6/21/2011