Amateur Radio Balloon Launch from the Summit
The NA1WJ staff launched four Pico balloons from the Summit during the World Scout Jamboree with call signs NA1WJ-5, NA1WJ-6, NA1WJ-7, and NA1WJ-8.
The Skytracker payload that flies on the small Jamboree balloons weighs less than a half ounce and is totally solar-powered. It transmits its position and altitude every two minutes during daylight hours and could float in the Jet Stream for days and weeks. It could potentially fly across the Atlantic Ocean or even around the World.
Two balloons, NA1WJ-6 and NA1WJ-7, crossed the Atlantic. The other two were lost over the USA in thunderstorms. Here are the last reports from those that crossed the Atlantic.
We also have videos of their launches:
Amateur Radio High Altitude Ballooning (ARHAB) is an Amateur Radio activity for near space explorers and enthusiasts dedicated to the education and study of aerospace science. For more information about this activity visit: http://www.arhab.org.
