Author: Administrator

One of the cameras on Away 119 was mounted on a servo. It circled around giving us a series of great pictures.

Away 118 and Away 119 carries three university payloads, 700 PongSat  student experiments, our own balloon valve experiments, a new servo driven camera system and a ceremonial basket from the Sobono Indian Tribe.

Away 118 and Away 119 flew on Sunday to the edge of space. Both vehicle have been recovered from their mountain landing site and team is home safe and sound. Away 118 reached 104,305 feet. Away 119 was our 183rd flight.

After weeks of weather delays the Away 118 and Away 119 high altitude balloon missions are go for flight this Sunday.

We will be carrying over 700 PongSats and three CubeSats from UOP (University of the Pacific), UPAEP (University in Mexico) and the Reach for the Stars Foundation. We will also be testing helium venting systems in preparation for the new Tandem airship.

This is from a 2012 mission. Just a bit of a roll before heading back to Earth.

These sure are a happy bunch of PongSats. I love the blend of art with science you get with PongSats.

Here’s a great article on future astronauts getting ready to fly on our next mission.

http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/noli-indian-school-jp-aerospace-set-to-launch-a-native-american-basket-into-space-in-an-out-of-this-world-science-project/

UOP is flying a CubeSat on our Away 118 Balloon flight next week.  Here’s a great article with video of the students building their CubeSat.

http://www.recordnet.com/article/20150928/NEWS/150929708