2016 Global Space Balloon Challenge
Most Educational Initiative Entry
GSBS name: ILMAPALL (Weather Balloon)
Organization: Kanepi Gymnasium and University of Tartu
Launch date: 29.04.2016
Introduction
This project, called ’Atmosphere and Me’ was carried out in Estonia,
which is rather small country with a population of 1.3 million located
in North-East Europe. The project was a collaboration between Kanepi
Gymnasium (school) and the University of Tartu.
Kanepi Gymnasium is a medium size, countryside school of 175
students ages 7 – 18. All pupils were included in this project with the
activities developed being appropriate to the age of the students.
Description of the education program
The project lasted for an entire semester with activities aimed at
developing the sudents understanding of the atmosphere, environment
and some physics related to the aforementioned subjects. The activities
were prepared and conducted by physics and geography students and
lecturers from the University of Tartu’s Laboratory of Athmospheric
Physics and Centre for School Physics.
What kind of activities did we do?
The workshops for the school students were based on three areas of
study; the structure of the atmosphere, gases in the atmosphere and
radiation in the atmosphere. Each of the workshops had theoretical and
practical elements. In addition to the workshops there were also
optional activities which including creative writing and photography
tasks based on the ’Atmosphere and me’ theme.
The highlight of the project was of course the balloon launch and
following this we organised a family day which gave parents and
members of the wider community a chance to find out about the project.
Themed workshops were organised for visitors together with the
opportunity to view video captured during the balloons ascent/descent,
also video and images taken from the workshops.
Balloon launching day at 27th April
We launched the balloon called ’Ilmapall’ on 27th April 2016 from
Kanepi Gymnasium school stadium. The balloon´s payload included a
range of sensors which monitored temperature, humidity, pressure and
UV-radiation. There was also GPS and a GO-PRO camera. The
technical preparations were made by university students.
The launch day started with a seminar during which the technical
aspects of the mission were explained. The payload box was not closed
until after this session so that the school students had the chance to see
on the board equipment. Following the seminar group practical
workshops were held with each group preparing a reflector the lightest
of which was included on board the ’Ilmapall’.
All of the aspects needed to bring the ’Ilmapall’ together and ready for
launch were then assembled with help from the school students.
Everyone involved in the project assembled at the launch site with the
schools senior student having the responsibility of filling the balloon
and holding it in place prior to launch. Members of the local community
were also present.
Our aim was to get payload back, so after launching the university team
started to track the balloons progress. On this day we were lucky.
What will we do with data we got from the balloon?
So far primary data including flight duration, altitude, vertical and
horizontal speed and temperature etc. have been presented to the
students in a seminar although the highlight was the video footage that
was captured by the on board camera. We were able to collect quite
unique shots of the biggest lake in Estonia called Peipsi. This is on the
border between Estonia and Russia and has an area of 3555 km2.
Lake Peipsi
Our next step is to carry out seminars for the older school students
during which they will analyse data collected from the balloon. Using
a range of methods they will determine the highest and the lowest
temperature point, determine the altitude of the tropopause, explore the
variation of humidity and pressure with altitude and compare forecast
model data with data collected during the mission etc.
Some flight data
Flight high – 32 777 m
Max ascent speed 12 m/s
Max descent speed – 57 m/s (high was at this moment 32 km)
Max vertical speed – 35 m/s (high was at this moment 8.25 km)
Cost summaries
Balloon Hwoyee HY-1000
Spherachute
Camera GoPro
Helium
Electronics
Total cost
74.00 €
50.00 €
150.00 €
156.00 €
400.00 €
830.00 €
We received grant covering all costs for the project from the
Environmental Investment Centre of Estonia.
Effectiveness
This project provided a challenge to both the school students and the
university team. It provided inspiration and motivation to students over
a wide age range and educational level.
More than 250 people were involved in the project including the school
and university students, teachers and lecturers, parents and the local
community. Through their involvement their understanding of the
Earth’s atmosphere and how it can be studied has been enhanced and
for many they have had the chance to develop additional interpersonal
and communication skills.
The most important aspect however was the enjoyment that the students
experienced during all aspects of this project and their strong opinion is
that we should repeat this program next year and build on what we have
learned.
Future plans
Given the success and enjoyment experienced by everyone involved it
would be a shame to let go of the opportunity to develop this project
further. As such we are looking at extentions that will go beyond
environmental and atmospheric physics to include mechanics and some
thermal physics.
Education documentary video link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEDTZ6kE1Fo
Flight footage
http://listenonrepeat.com/watch/?v=Lnqit3T8rhk#Ilmapalli_lennutami
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