SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
MANILA, Philippines – There’s something intriguing about the idea that there’s more beyond what we see of the sky.
But experiencing the thrills of space can seem like an unattainable dream.
Fortunately, there are options. Space tourism is foreseeable in the future. For now, regular people can catch glimpses of space using an unlikely object: a balloon.
These space balloons, which reach high altitudes, carry cameras to record the journey on video or capture photos at set intervals.
Recently, sunblock brand Beach Hut launched their own space balloon in Europe. They placed a bottle of their Max 100 Lotion and a hula doll named Paula in the makeshift spaceship/payload – making this the very first sunblock to reach space!
Max 100 and Paula hit a few speedbumps in their journey. They lost connection with the GPS tracker and landed on restricted grounds. But as shown in the video above, the sights from 106,627.3 feet up in space were worth it.
With the earth and the clouds way below them, Beach Hut pulled off this stunt to do something different and bold in the spirit of chasing the sun – by literally leaving the ground behind.
How is a space balloon launched?
Space balloon experiments were originally created for climate, atmospheric, and astronomical research purposes. It eventually turned into a popular project for hobbyists and an educational experience for students.
These high-quality balloons, which are usually inflated with helium or hydrogen, reach up to 100,000 feet (around 30km) above the earth’s surface.
The average balloon flight and descent takes about 3 hours, but it’s not just a one-day science experiment. It requires meticulous planning.
Civilians also can’t go around sending items into space at whim, as this has the potential to affect air traffic. They’d need to procure a permit from government agencies and authorities first.
They also need a parachute, radar reflector, and a Styrofoam box to contain a GPS tracker and a GoPro or a regular off-the- shelf camera.
A GPS transmitter tracks the balloon’s journey. Keep in mind that the wind can blow it to an entirely different direction. The whole experiment fails if the balloon lands on water or other inaccessible places!
Chase the sun, your way
Launching a space balloon isn’t easy. Resources for this aren’t widely available. But with the right amount of SPF from Beach Hut Sunblock, you can try other extreme ways of having fun under the sun.
Maybe you want to try surfing, kayaking, or mountain climbing. How are you planning to chase the sun? – Rappler.com
Add a comment
How does this make you feel?
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.