We always encourage our Wyoming students to aim high. The Midwest School took this direction quite literally a few months ago when they launched a high-altitude balloon nearly 100,000 feet above Wyoming.
Not sure how I missed this, but this launch from Midwest School was in February. That's probably why Wyoming looks so white from up there. It's a relatively short video, but it shows the balloon's progress from the time it was on the ground to the point where it reached 99,000 feet.
Getting an object to that height is no small feat. This means that this balloon went over the stratosphere inside mesosphere. I had to look it up the NASA website to make sure I remembered it correctly. As they document, the stratosphere is where the ozone layer exists that protects us from the sun's UV rays. The mesosphere is where meteorites that hit our atmosphere burn up.
Overlook Horizon it has instructions on how you could hypothetically do it yourself, but keep in mind that there are understandably so certain safety regulations Here are a couple:
Any built-in mobile tracking systems (phone) must be turned off (airplane mode activated) as it leaves the ground.
Each individual payload box/package must weigh less than 6 kg.
If you ever get serious about it, be sure to check it out all the rules for your own safety and that of others.
Kudos to Midwest School for aiming for the stars – literally.
