Embedded Files
Students were assigned to specific teams. The teams included:
Safety, History, Materials, FAA Guidelines, Surface Weather, Jet Stream, Space Weather, Payload Design, Balloon Inflation, Balloon Tying, Radar Reflector, Time-Lapse Camera, Video Camera, Data Recorder, APRS Tracking, Launch Site Design, Public Relations, Radiation Experiment, Data Analysis, Trajectory Projections, Resource (loose ends), and Recovery.
Each team had a page on Office 365 that contained a list of topics to be addressed. Everyone could view other team files so information could be easily shared. Teams would discuss their progress with the entire class as the project went forward.
Below is a list of the teams, brief descriptions of the team's responsibilities, and quotes about the project.
Camera 1 - Become the expert of the camera. Test the camera. Put the camera in the payload. Research digital photography.
"Our job was to study the camera up and down, inside and out, right to left, and left to right. " Tobin
"I am proud of my class and proud that the project was a success but I really do wish the balloon could have went a little further so we can see the earth like in the video that we saw but I still love the footage we got." Tanner
HABHUB Projections - Period 1 - Use the HABHUB tool to predict the balloon trajectories .
"When the jobs were being given out, I decided to be projections. The reason I chose to be projections is actually pretty simple, I really like computers and I am good with them." Elizabeth
"I hope that Mr. Brode and the science department continue to do this project every year. " Elizabeth
Astra-Planner Projections - Period 1 - Use the Astra Planner tool to predict the balloon trajectories .
"It was nice to watch something the entire class worked so hard for, get publicity, and be cheered on by the entire student body." Jason
"I had fun predicting with my partner Chasten. We always joked about it landing on top of an airplane and the airplane crashing or it flying over the White House and getting shot down because they thought it could be a bomb." Jason
After the balloon was launched, senior Jason wrote "It [the balloon] was free from this place like I will be in just a week's time."
"The balloon went up extremely fast, like my blood pressure in first period." Chasten
UM Projections - Period 1 - Use the University of Michigan tool to predict the balloon trajectories .
"This was definitely one of the coolest science projects I've ever done!" Thomas
"I learned a lot while doing the project and had no idea before that you could predict where at a balloon would land when sent almost to space." Anthony
"It all started with the idea of sending SpongeBob in space.” Deon
Jet Stream - Keep a daily log of the projected wind directions in the Jet Stream in our area.
Public Relations - Determine contact information for local TV, newspaper, and radio stations. Create an announcement.
"It was interesting to think that we all joined together in order to get this weather balloon project together." Hallie
"I enjoyed this project very much just finding out new things I didn’t know before. This is my senior year and it was very exciting to be able to do something this cool before I head out and start life." Morgan
Materials - Research the materials that will be needed for the project. Make recommendations of the materials to purchase.
"The project was a great way to learn science in a hands-on way." Taya
"The weather balloon was really fun to do. I can say this was the most fun i have ever had in a science class. It gave me a new sense of thinking. And it showed me that things are very possible to do when you set your mind to it. " Shayla
"We had to get information about the materials we used. For example, we had a question about how temperature would affect the camera." Tori
Radiation Experiment - Research and design an experiment to measure radiation levels at high altitudes.
"My favorite part was when we actually launched the balloon, seeing it all come together after a couple months of work finally paid off." Tyler
University of Michigan Projection Team - Period 2 - Use the University of Michigan tool to predict the balloon trajectories .
"At first I was uninterested in this project until i actually got more involved and worked out the calculations. " Kris
"My role in the weather balloon project was being on the University of Michigan weather balloon projection team. The importance of this role was being able to make a semi-accurate projection of where the balloon was going to land." Desmond
Safety - Research safety rules. Monitor launch day activities to ensure that the rules are followed.
"I really liked my job and would choose it again if presented with the opportunity to complete this task again." Michael
"The project went very well for the first time doing it. Hopefully more projects as the years go on and wanting to see what the future has in store." Justin
Tracking - Test the tracking device. Use aprs.fi to track the balloon.
"My team was given the Micro-Trak 1000 to research, which was a small device that was paired with an antenna that was able to send its own location to a radio tower to be picked up by a laptop." Joe
"I helped test out the tracking device. I took a couple walks with others in small groups around campus to test out the tracking device to see if it would pick up the signals." Garrett
"As everyone stood around watching the balloon fade into the sky, I felt a real sense of teamwork and accomplishment. It was inspiring to be a part of scientific work that well exceeds the usual classroom setting." Eliza
"Mistakes were made, pizza was ordered, a son of a teacher was met - it was crazy." Billy C.
"As I watched it fly away, I had a profound moment when I thought, 'Wow, we really did this. We actually created a real weather balloon and we are really launching it.'" Zach
Data Recorder (Z-Log) -- Learn how to use the Z-Log device. Run tests. Put the device in the payload.
"My role in this project was to create the crate that the equipment traveled in. We used Styrofoam to create a test model to see how everything would fit in. The name of this box was the 'P5'." Tyler
"My group was assigned to do the Z log device. We got started right away. Anthony Crone (Moose) read the directions out to us for to follow. Simply put: we had no idea what we were doing. After a couple of days and through brute force with the machine we eventually figured out what needed to be done." Casey
"Then, Mr. Hankey appeared like a shadow in the night and asked a very important question. 'So, you sure all that stuff is turned on.' We didn’t know, we were so caught up in the excitement of weather balloons that we forgot to check." Anthony
HABHUB Projections - Period 5 - Use the HABHUB tool to predict the balloon trajectories .
"The weather balloon project is something I will never forget and I am glad I got to do it with some amazing friends and classmates." Josh
"I would recommend doing this project in years to come." Cody
Launch Site Design - Research and create a design for our launch site. Set the site up on launch day.
"We worked and created more blueprints of the site, measured the perimeter, and edited the blueprints again. We had to get with other teams and discuss the space needed by each team and decide how many tables we would need at the launch site. " Billy
"It would be a fun project to do in the future and people this year could help people next year make the weather balloon." Matthew
Astra-Planner Projections - Period 5- Use the Astra-Planner tool to predict the balloon trajectories .
"I love that I had the opportunity to be a part of this large project. I think this was such a good idea and brought not only your science classes, but the entire student body together." Rikki
"I loved being able to get out of the class and do something fun." Braden
Surface Weather - Period 6 -Keep a daily log of weather forecasts. Make decisions about weather conditions that would be acceptable for launching the balloon.
"We learned a lot about the atmosphere in this project and got to see what the land we live on looks like from way above looking down. Best project so far I have been part of in high school." Hunter
Data Analysis - Examine the data from the data logger, the cameras, and the tracking device. Also, look at the daily projections for trends.
"I hope that next year we can do something fun like this again in our science classes that we have to take." Madasin
"...it felt like yesterday I was just compiling the functions and images of different weather balloon related instruments and apparatuses. Now we’ve all congregated together, used our newfound knowledge, and launched a weather balloon at our own school." Shenandoah
Balloon Inflation - Determine how to inflate the balloon. Build an Inflator. Inflate the balloon.
"This balloon project was probably one of the most fun things I have done throughout my school experience. As a student it was awesome to see the student body come together as a whole and enjoy it as a whole. Also every student in all the classes had a responsibility in the project which made it worth the wait. Even most of the teachers got involved and had a great time." Andrew
Resource Team - Period 6 - Do assignments that did not fit into other team responsibilities. Also, help other teams with their assignments.
"One of the biggest things I learned was that it is not a cheap or easy process." Nellea
Astra-Planner Projections - Period 6 - Use the Astra Planner tool to predict the balloon trajectories .
"We wanted it to land somewhere open like an open field so we could go and receive it easily with out any problem." Kyle
Balloon Tying - Research how weather balloons are tied. Tie the balloon of launch day.
"Our job was one of the most important jobs of the whole project because if we did not tie the balloon right or tight enough, it would not have even worked and it would have messed up the whole project." Seth
Radar Reflector - Research, design, and build a radar reflector. Attach the radar reflector on launch day.
"If we all put our minds to one thing we can accomplish it in a small amount of time." Joe
Resource Team - Period 6 - Do assignments that did not fit into other team responsibilities. Also, help other teams with their assignments.
HAM Radio Operator - Alex McDolald - Worked with the recovery team.
"Without Alex's help, the balloon would probably still be somewhere in PA." John Brode
FAA - Research the guidelines for launching a weather balloon. Determine the phone numbers of the specific offices to contact.
"I thought this was a really cool project and I'm glad we could do it. Doing this assignment made me really enjoy Earth Science." Lexi
History - Research the history of weather balloons.
"I think the weather balloon was a success this year. Everybody liked watching the weather balloon getting sent up into the sky and watching the pictures that were taken. " Shane
Resource Team Period 5
"Don't be afraid to try something new because how do you know if it works or not without trying it." Lyric
Projections - Period 2
"Now to me this project was really fun and amazing and it was a lot of hard work to figure out where the balloon would land if we launched it on that specific day that we were finding the trajectory. " Alec
"Now I can say I helped make history with one of the coolest teachers I have met. Mr. Brode has a lot of expectations and goals and when he wants to do a huge project then he does it and that is what is great about him." Alec
"I enjoyed the fact that all of the classes worked together to accomplish the goal of launching the weather balloon." Tyler
HABHUB Projections - Period 6
"It took a long time to set up, but we finally did and it was pretty cool seeing it leave and go so far." Scottie
Space Weather
"Getting to watch the weather balloon slowly increase higher into the sky was really an amazing encounter. It was not say life changing but we are tracking the balloon now and I think it is really cool. I am happy that I decided to take this class and take part in this exciting experiment!" McKenna
"It feels like we’re taking great steps as young adults into learning the different ways of technology and science. It was also an amazing group project and experience. Everybody got to have a part in this project and all efforts were used into making the project happen." Jennifer M.
"The whole project itself brought not just the class of students together, but the whole school got to experience that Berkeley Springs High School was able to accomplish this." Jennifer M.
"My job was to help predict where we thought the balloon was going to land and to me that was one of the most exciting jobs because I could zoom out and zoom in on places all across the world and that is honestly really cool. The experience was something that I would not trade in, there is just something about seeing the whole school really excited and come together to help which made it even more great." Gehrig
Video Camera
"We had to learn how our camera worked, how much it weighed, seeing if it was fog proof, how long will the battery last, if it took video or pictures, and if the camera could have a hand warmer next to or against it." Krissy and Jorgia
HABHUB Projections - Period 1
"What I did on the project was trajectory or trying to figure out where the balloon would land." Josh
Photography
"I had fun working with the cameras and electronics. It's so cool seeing this project succeed."
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