Meteor Balloon Movies, recorded April 11, 1999
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These movies were recorded during the April 11 launch and subsequent flight of the NASA/MSFC Meteor Balloon. A replay of the entire 2 hour flight, as recorded by the on-board video camera, may be viewed here. However, we recommend viewing the highlights listed below. All movies require Realvideo player version G2 or greater. Click to download the RealVideo Player from RealNetworks, Inc.
Video & Audio Highlights
Launch:
Photographer Bob Moder made this 1 minute short of final preparations
of the payload, inflation of the helium balloon, and release
(6:47 p.m. CDT April 11, 1999). The first part of this movie
shows Ed Myszka attaching one of the xerogel capture medium cells
to the payload. Inflation of the balloon required nearly a dozen
people to make sure the 10ft diameter balloon wasn't blown into
the ground and damaged before release. The winds were still 10-15
mph, and gusty; our main concern was that the balloon not get
blown into the tall tethering pole located nearby and seen just
as the balloon is released.
Sunset:
From the balloon's point of view at about 80,000 ft altitude
(Approximately 7:25 p.m. CDT April 11) Part of the payload frame
and tethers holding the payload tail are visible in the lower
part of the frame. The curvature of the Earth seen in the frame
is due to "fish-eye" lens distortion. The numbers showing
in the picture do not give an accurate position and speed, the
GPS sensor failed during ascent of the payload. The eerie gurgling
noise is the very thin wind blowing through the payload frame
and tethers. (56KB
version)
Balloon
Burst: Although a little of the fading glow from sunset
is occasionally visible, the audio from this recording is the
most startling thing about this movie. At about 12 seconds into
the playback, the occasional "whoosh" of the wind is
replaced by a constant roar - indicating the balloon has burst
and the payload is plunging back through the stratosphere. As
the air thickens, the balloon's parachute significantly slows
the descent; allowing us to retrieve a yet-usable payload for
another flight!
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