High Altitude LEGO Extravaganza

[spyboy]

H.A.L.E. - High Altitude LEGO Extravaganza

On July 29th, 2 weather balloons were launched with 9 LEGO Mindstorm payloads (5 on 1, 4 on the other) in Nevada. They measured air quality (using tape to collect particles at different altitudes), took photos, measured ozone concentration, UV radiation, etc.

What I find fascinating about it, is they used off the shelf parts (LEGO Mindstorms NXT kit, gps's, etc) to create their high altitude mini labs.

One payload was how marshmellow peeps do in high altitude (for a 4th grade class)

The two balloons reached an altitude of 99,712 feet.

http://www.unr.edu/nevadasat/HALE/

photos of the mission

http://gallery.me.com/lego.professor#100014

Kirk

[storygirll]

That is really neat.
Something to share with my students.

Thanks!
>^..^<

[BlueDog]

This take "geek" to a completely new level! So does this mean that instead of send checks to support MWO, we need to start shipping them out old tubs of LEGOs?

[spyboy]

If the Obs released LEGO payloads on weather balloons, by the time they hit 99,000 feet, I'm sure they'd be many miles off the coast of Maine.