In the summer of 2014, MERLAB built a near space balloon payload with
the Agnes Scott College physics department in celebration of the
college's 125th anniversary. In addition to obtaining high altitude
photos (with and without a picture of Agnes Scott herself!), the payload
also recorded a variety of data, including temperature, pressure,
acceleration, and radiation.
Cold test of cameras, tracking systems, and
sensorsBalloon, parachute, radar reflector, and payloadLast view from the groundPhoto just after launch from Jasper County Recreation
CenterStill climbing outBroader view of the regionStarting to clear the haze layerAbove the few local cloudsView of Lake OconeeTowering cumulus clouds in the distanceClouds below, getting darker aboveLooking like a planet down thereEarth's curvature is starting to be visibleSeeing quite far into the distanceEasy to see large scale structure in the cloud
patternsPendulum motions beneath the balloon provide for some
interesting camera anglesAbove most (about 95%) of Earth's atmosphereSome more impressive clouds in the distanceHighest photo with the unobstructed cameraHighest photo opposite camera (with Agnes Scott in her
space helmet)
