Teaching students science and engineering with high altitude balloons and ChipKits

Abstract

A low cost method for introducing students to science and engineering is in the use of high altitude balloons. These balloons are capable of reaching near space altitudes and in many cases above 30 km above sea level. The use of high altitude balloons introduce students to science through a variety of experiments that can be carried out on these missions. Engineering is taught through the design, build and fly concept where students design critical components of the system, build them and then test the concept through flights. Students also learn the operations side of successfully launching, tracking and recovering a high altitude balloon. Because the flight costs of high altitude balloons are low, usually between $400-$600 USD, multiple flights can be carried out throughout a school year. This low cost allows us to give students access to near space conditions at a fraction of the cost for a normal space flight such as a cubesat mission. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2014.