Students retrieve footage from space balloon project

KELOWNA – A camera-laden balloon that was launched into the upper atmosphere by students from two Okanagan elementary schools has returned to Earth.

Grade nine students from Dr. Knox Middle School and Bankhead Elementary designed and launched the balloon as part of a four-month project.

The balloon left Knox Middle School October 28, equipped with three video cameras, a flight data recorder and GPS tracking system. It spent more than four hours reaching an altitude of almost 100,000 feet before the balloon burst, sending the cargo, which also included mascots from both schools, gently parachuting back home.

Using the GPS tracking device, two Dr. Knox teachers tracked the device to the Cascade Mountains in Washington state.

The footage, which includes breathtaking shots of the Okanagan Valley, was edited by the students.

 This is the video of the set up and launch.

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This is the final film, including footage from 95,000 feet over the Okanagan.

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To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca, call (250) 718-0428 or tweet @AdamProskiw.