Balloon Payload Program
Goal: to provide easy access to “near-space” for students who cannot afford a launch vehicle!
- A weather balloon is used to lift small payloads to the edge of the atmosphere (85,000-100,000 feet altitude).
- Payloads are not orbital but space-like conditions exist in terms of pressure, temperature, and radiation environment.
- Experiments can be performed on the way up and on the way down via parachute.
- Students are involved in every aspect of this space launch program: payload design and construction, vehicle launch and recovery, post-flight data analysis.
- Approaching 100 successful launches during 15+ years of operation!
- Recent Balloon Launches
BPP Director and University of Maryland College Park Advisor:
Dr. Mary Bowden, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering
Faculty or teachers at any Maryland educational institution who are interested in supervising student balloon payload projects are encouraged to contact Matt Collinge