[LeArc] Amazing balloon burst video from the June 12th Spaceport Indiana launch

[Mark A Garrett]

----- Forwarded Message ----- 
From: WB8ELK at aol.com 



I put the Flip Ultra digital camcorder unit on this pointing up at the balloon for our Spaceport Camp student flight. We had video cameras pointing up, down and at the horizon as well as Canon still cameras. In the past, I've used the RCA SmallWonder units but they tend to freeze up after about 25,000 feet unless you have them in a heated environment....the most I've been able to get out of them was about 60 minutes worth. So I went in search of a better camcorder and found the Flip Ultra on sale for $129. It has 4 Gb of internal memory and claimed 120 minutes of record time....although there is no room for expansion, the plus is that it runs on 2 AA batteries. 

It worked flawlessly in a tough environment (pointing up at the balloon with the lens explosed to the elements and no other heat sources)....recording the entire 120 minutes with life to spare on the 2 AA lithium batteries....the quality of the video is amazing and the stereo sounds makes it feel like you are going along for the ride...even with the YouTube compression I think you'll see the video and audio quality of this camera. I plan to fly a couple of these at GPSL this July. 

The payload you see above the camera are the Eggsperiments with Peeponauts inside (and an earthworm and roly poly bugs - they didn't survive)...also two small snack-sized potato chip bags are on either side of it....they did not pop but puffed out like pillows...the potato chip bags both flew off on the descent at about 45,000 feet. 

http://www.spaceportindiana.com 



YouTube of the burst at nearly 95,000 feet: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsQb-oWq6d4 

- Bill WB8ELK 

http://www.wb8elk.com